Nicole Grayson, 43, died after jumping into the St. Johns River at Ed Stone Park in DeLand to rescue her 4-year-old son, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said. Bystanders and a passing boater pulled the child from the water and performed life-saving measures on Grayson before she was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
The incident unfolded Saturday afternoon and left a community mourning a mother described by family and officials as heroic for putting her child’s life before her own. Officials have characterized the accounts as preliminary as investigators continue to review the scene and statements.
What happened at Ed Stone Park
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the 4-year-old had been playing near a wooden fence along the riverbank when an object fell over the barrier and the boy slipped into the St. Johns River while trying to retrieve it. Ed Stone Park is a public access point on the St. Johns River west of DeLand.
A witness at the park flagged down a passing boater, who threw life preservers toward the mother and child. The boater was able to pull the boy aboard; authorities said the child was unharmed. Officials said Grayson became submerged while continuing to hold her son above the surface and was later pulled from the water unresponsive.
Nicole Grayson and the rescue
Family members identified the woman as Nicole Grayson, a mother of six. Witnesses described frantic efforts to save her after she entered the water to retrieve her son.
Grayson’s eldest son, Dafino Devega, told FOX 35 that his mother panicked and jumped in after the boy. “My guess is he was trying to get it. He slipped in the water, deep, he slipped away in the water,” Devega said, according to the local report. Those comments are part of preliminary witness accounts shared with reporters.
Jon Reaka, a bystander who boarded the boater’s vessel during the emergency, said he helped pull Grayson aboard and immediately began CPR and mouth-to-mouth. “I started CPR — I started CPR and mouth-to-mouth immediately,” Reaka told reporters. “I tried everything I could do to save her.” Reaka and others worked at the scene until emergency responders arrived.
Emergency medical personnel continued advanced life-saving efforts at the park before rushing Grayson to a hospital. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said she died in the intensive care unit around 10 p.m. Saturday despite those interventions. Authorities cautioned that timelines and specific medical details are preliminary and subject to confirmation from medical examiners or investigators.
Timeline of events
Officials and witnesses provided a basic sequence based on preliminary statements:
- About 4 p.m. Saturday: The 4-year-old dropped an unidentified object over the barrier and fell into the St. Johns River at Ed Stone Park.
- Shortly after: Nicole Grayson jumped into the river to retrieve her son and struggled to keep him above water.
- Moments later: A witness flagged down a passing boater, who threw life preservers and pulled the child aboard; the boy was unharmed.
- Following the rescue: Jon Reaka and others pulled Grayson from the river; she was unresponsive and bystanders performed CPR until EMS arrived.
- Around 10 p.m.: Grayson died in the hospital intensive care unit despite ongoing resuscitation efforts.
Official response from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office released a statement thanking those who assisted at the scene and offering condolences to Grayson’s family. Sheriff Mike Chitwood publicly praised the witnesses and the boater who helped, saying the department sends “sincere thanks to all who jumped in to help with the rescue, and deepest condolences to Ms. Grayson’s family and friends for their loss of a mother who gave her life to save her son.”
The sheriff’s office emphasized that accounts are preliminary while investigators collect statements and related evidence. Deputies said they will continue to work with medical personnel and family members as they finalize a full report.
Community reaction and local context
Family members and neighbors described Grayson as a fiercely protective parent and a fixture in her community. In preliminary interviews, relatives called her a hero who prioritized her children. One family member told reporters she was “a strong woman” who “would do anything to keep her kids safe.”
Locally, the tragedy has prompted renewed reminders about water safety around the St. Johns River. Officials often urge caregivers to closely supervise young children near riverbanks, secure barriers where possible, carry life jackets on boats, and teach basic water-safety skills. Ed Stone Park is a public access site that attracts visitors to the river; authorities said they will reiterate safety guidance in the wake of the incident.
Authorities said investigators continue to gather witness statements and evidence. Medical examiners and deputies will complete standard procedures to finalize the circumstances surrounding Grayson’s death. Next steps may include additional interviews, review of emergency response records and any official determinations by the county medical examiner.
Accounts in this article are based on preliminary witness statements and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office release and may be subject to further verification as investigators complete their work.
Source: Fox News. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office provided official details and the department’s statement.
