A Florida mother has died after using her remaining strength to keep her four-year-old son above water in the St. Johns River, in an incident being described by those close to her as a final act of heroism. Nicole Grayson's death has drawn attention as another case in which a parent's instinctive protective actions came at the cost of their own life, underscoring the dangers posed by Florida's waterways, particularly to young children.

Details of the incident indicate that Grayson's son had fallen into the river, prompting her to act to save him, ultimately exhausting herself in the process. The boy survived the ordeal thanks to his mother's efforts, though full details of how the incident unfolded, including the exact circumstances and location on the river, were limited in initial reporting.