Mother, 12-year-old son drown in pond as she tries to rescue him from water

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT/Gray News) - A mother and her 12-year-old son both drowned in a Virginia pond after the boy began struggling and his mother went in to try and save him.

Chesterfield Police say a 12-year-old boy went into a private pond in Chester and began to struggle in the water just before 6 p.m. last Sunday.

Police say a 30-year-old female family member tried to rescue the boy but then went under water, too. Despite lifesaving efforts, both of them were pronounced dead at the scene.

A GoFundMe identified the victims as Maria Lopez and her son, Jonathan Lopez. The fundraiser was set up to help bring the mother and son’s bodies home to Guatemala and cover funeral and repatriation expenses.

Lopez is survived by five children and her husband, according to the GoFundMe.