5-year-old child drowns in Edgecombe County, mother in critical condition

The Edgecombe Sheriff's Office says 5-year-old Ronald Velazquez drowned Thursday afternoon in a pond off Lillie Lane.

During the search, divers discovered the boy's body around 6 p.m.

The child's mother, who had jumped into the water to help, was unable to save her child and had to be resuscitated.

According to reports, she is in critical condition at Nash General Hospital.

The Edgecombe County Sheriff, Cleveland Atkinson, Jr. says the family was out playing in the water when the young boy started to struggle.

"And like any mother would do, the mother jumped in and tried to save her child," said Atkinson.

He says the mom started to struggle and the 7-year-old daughter was able to pull her to safety.

"She was running back and forth trying to get neighbors to help, and she did get help from an adult," said Atkinson.

The neighbor who helped pull the mom out of the water tells WRAL News she is shocked.

According to reports, the family has lived in that community across the street from the pond since January.

"It's a tragedy any time anybody loses their life under whatever circumstances," said James Russ, property manager.

Russ manages the property and knows the Velazquez family. He says the mother was nice as she could be.