Nicole Grayson Gave Her Life Saving Her 4-Year-Old Son in the St. Johns River

On July 18, 2026, 43-year-old Nicole Grayson, a mother of six from the DeLand area in Florida, jumped into the St. Johns River without hesitation after her young son fell in. She kept the 4-year-old afloat long enough for a passing boater to pull him to safety. Exhausted by the effort, Grayson slipped beneath the water and later died at a hospital.

How the Tragedy Unfolded

The family was at Ed Stone Park west of DeLand that Saturday afternoon. The boy had been playing near a low wooden fence along the river’s edge when he dropped an object over the barrier. He leaned over to retrieve it and fell into the water. Grayson immediately entered the river after him.

Witnesses said she used all her strength to hold her son above the surface as the current carried them. A woman on shore flagged down a nearby boater, Marc Swartz. He threw life preservers and maneuvered close enough to pull the child onto the boat unharmed. Another bystander then jumped in, helped lift Grayson aboard, and began CPR until emergency crews arrived.

Medics continued lifesaving efforts and rushed Grayson to AdventHealth DeLand. Despite hours of treatment, she died in the intensive care unit around 10 p.m. that night.

A Mother Remembered for Her Love

Grayson worked as a hospice nurse and raised six children. Family members described her as devoted and selfless. Her oldest son, Dafino Devega, said she would have done the same for any of her kids. Another of her children, who was at the park that day, recalled how she focused entirely on protecting her little brother.

Community members gathered for vigils in the days that followed, many wearing pink, her favorite color. They spoke of her as a hero who put her child’s life above her own. A GoFundMe for the family raised tens of thousands of dollars to help with funeral costs and support the children she left behind.

A Lasting Act of Courage

Officials noted the fence near the water was only knee-high and ineffective as a barrier. The boy survived without injury. Grayson’s final act ensured her son came home safely while she paid the ultimate price.

Her story quickly spread across Florida and beyond as an example of a mother’s instinctive, fearless love. Friends and relatives continue to honor the woman who gave everything so her child could live.

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