A grandmother has died after a failed attempt to rescue her grandson from a pond in Acton, Massachusetts. The 75-year-old woman and the one-year-old child were visiting Nara Park on Friday with three other grandchildren when the toddler fell into the water.
Officials believe the grandmother entered the pond in an attempt to save the child. Both were pulled from the water and immediately received CPR from lifeguards before being transported to a local hospital. The grandson, who was nearly two years old, died on Friday. The grandmother, who was in critical condition, died the following day.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told The Boston Globe that authorities suspect the child accidentally fell into the pond in an area with slippery rocks. The grandmother had been dropped off by the children's mother for a park visit. Neither victim has been publicly named.
Acton Fire Chief Anita Arnum stated that "despite the heroic efforts of the responding crews, both victims ultimately died of their injuries." She added, "Incidents like this are difficult for everyone involved, particularly when the outcome is not what we hope for." The victims fell into a part of the pond separate from the designated swimming area.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy in 2022, when a 49-year-old woman died after attempting to rescue her granddaughter from West Point Lake in Georgia. The granddaughter drowned after becoming panicked while swimming, and the grandmother entered the water after her. The grandmother never recovered from the incident and died a week later.