The body of a 7-year-old boy was discovered in California on Saturday near the area where his mother had died just days before. Florencia Ramirez, 27, of Salinas, and her son, Edgar Espinoza, 7, were reportedly in the ocean in the afternoon on March 22 when they disappeared. Crews diligently searched for the pair, hoping for a rescue, not a recovery mission.
The search for the mother and son began Wednesday, when a passerby noticed a toddler alone on the beach in Moss Landing and called 911. KSBW reported that the 3-year-old boy said his mother and brother were missing. Ramirez was found floating in the water within an hour and taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The search for her son continued.
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The mother and her children were spending an afternoon at the beach.
Ramirez's family told KSBW she was a single mother and that nothing seemed unusual the afternoon she and her boys went to the beach. Authorities believe Espinoza was drowning and his mother jumped in the water to get him.
"She told me, 'I'm here at the beach, mom. I'm with my kids, they wanted to come have fun,'" Ramirez's mother, Luciana Urbano, told KSBW. "My daughter is a single mother. We are very sad for her," she added.
The search for Espinoza continued for several hours.
Because of dark skies and low visibility, the search ended Thursday evening, more than 24 hours after the pair went missing in the water. Searchers reconvened on Friday, and Espinoza was ultimately recovered on Saturday.
"The Monterey County Sheriff's Office and the personnel of the Coroner Unit offers its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Ramirez-Urbano," said Monterey County Undersheriff Keith Boyd, according to KION.
According to deputies, it is unknown how the pair ended up in the water, but many believe Ramirez was trying to save her son's life.
Police noted that the only witness is the 3-year-old boy, so it is incredibly difficult to determine what exactly happened.
"As a parent, I can speculate if my child went into the water, I would go into the water and that could be the case, although we really can't know for sure until our investigation is complete and we may never get that information," said Jeff Hoyne, chief deputy with the Monterey county Sheriff's Office, according to KSBW.
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Final expenses will be covered with help of a GoFundMe account.
According to the fundraiser, Ramirez was a farm worker originally from San Martín Peras Juxtlahuaca Oaxaca, Mexico. Her relatives said they are devastated and have asked for help paying for Ramirez's funeral expenses. The fundraiser has not been updated since the boy's body was found.
"Extending heartfelt condolences to all who loved this beautiful mother and son," one donor wrote.
"I am terribly sad for your loss. The boating community of Moss Landing is keeping [you] in our hearts," another person commented.
Drowning causes thousands of deaths each year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,000 people die from drowning each year in the United States. Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death in children 1 to 4 years old. Nearly 8,000 nonfatal drownings occur in the US annually as well.
The CDC recommends several tips to prevent drowning, including learning to swim, having proper supervision from a nonimpaired adult while swimming, and having someone available to aid in an emergency. The CDC also warns that swimmers must know the hidden dangers in natural waters.
"Lakes, rivers, and oceans have hidden hazards such as dangerous currents or waves, rocks or vegetation, and limited visibility. Check the forecast before activities in, on, or near water," the organization recommends. "Local weather conditions can change quickly and cause dangerous flash floods, strong winds, and thunderstorms with lightning strikes."
