A 43-year-old woman died Saturday in central Florida after sacrificing her life to save her four-year-old son, who fell into the St. Johns River while playing near the shore. Authorities and her family described her as a mother who did everything she could to keep her children safe until the last moment.

The victim was identified as Nicole Grayson, a mother of six. The incident occurred around 4:00 pm in Ed Stone Park, west of DeLand, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

According to investigators, the boy was playing near a wooden fence by the river when he dropped an object into the water. While trying to recover it, it fell into the river.

Grayson reacted immediately and jumped into the water to rescue him.

Witnesses helped bring the boy to safety

While the woman struggled to keep her son above the surface, a person in the park signaled to a passing boater.

The man threw two life preservers toward the mother and child. According to authorities, Grayson continued to hold his son above the water until the child could be reached.

However, the woman ended up submerging.

In a call to the 911 emergency service, a witness reported that the child had already been rescued, but that his mother was still in the water.

The boater managed to get close enough to get the minor onto the boat. The child was unharmed, authorities said.

Later, another witness, identified as Jon Reaka, jumped from a railing onto the boat to help pull Grayson out of the river.

The woman was unconscious when she was rescued.

Nicole Grayson died hours later in the hospital

Reaka began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until emergency teams arrived.

The paramedics continued with resuscitation efforts and took Grayson to a hospital, where he remained in intensive care for several hours.

The woman was pronounced dead around 10:00 pm on Saturday.

His eldest son, Dafino Devega, explained that he believes the boy fell into the water while trying to retrieve the object he had dropped.

“My mom went into the water to save him,” he told FOX 35.

Another witness said Grayson used all his strength to keep the child out of the water.

“She spent all her energy trying to keep her son above the edge,” said Reaka, who also expressed feeling deeply affected by what happened.

Family remembers Nicole Grayson as a hero

Family members noted that Grayson's act reflected the way he always protected his children.

“That was the kind of mom she was; she was a hero,” Devega said.

"My mom was a strong woman. She would have done anything to keep her children safe," he added.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office also highlighted the actions of the people who participated in the rescue and expressed its condolences to the family.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Grayson will be remembered as a hero, not only for her last action, but for being “a mother who would do anything for her children.”

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