A toddler who was days away from his second birthday died after being pulled from a pond at Nathaniel Allen Recreation Area in Acton, Massachusetts, Friday afternoon. His grandmother, who also entered the water during the incident, remained in critical condition at a Boston hospital.
Emergency crews were called to NARA Park on Ledge Rock Way at about 1:30 p.m. after a bystander reported seeing children in the area calling for help.
According to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, investigators believe the toddler may have accidentally entered the water and that his grandmother went in after him. Ryan cautioned that the circumstances remain under investigation and that authorities have not yet determined exactly how the incident unfolded.
Children alerted others to the emergency
A person running on a nearby path noticed two children, ages 4 and 6, trying to get help. The children were siblings of the toddler, according to investigators.
Witnesses then called out for assistance from across the pond. Lifeguards from a nearby summer camp responded after hearing the calls and went to help.
The rescue was difficult because of slippery rocks along the shoreline, Ryan said. The water in that section of the pond becomes deep quickly, reaching roughly 15 feet.
The toddler was taken by MedFlight to a hospital but later died. His grandmother, a 75-year-old woman, was also transported by MedFlight and later transferred to a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not released their names.
Investigators said the family was not at the park for swimming. The grandmother had been dropped off at NARA Park with her three grandchildren by the children’s parents, and the group was believed to be walking and playing in the area.
Neither the toddler nor his grandmother was wearing a bathing suit, according to investigators.
Investigation continues at NARA Park
The incident occurred away from the park’s designated swimming area. NARA Park does have a swimming beach that operates seasonally, with lifeguards on duty during the beach season. The Town of Acton describes the park as a 40-acre recreation area with a pond, beach, walking trails, playground and other recreational facilities.
The town’s 2026 NARA summer camp was scheduled to run through Aug. 28, the day of the incident, providing additional context for the presence of camp staff and lifeguards at the park.
Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo asked members of the community to support the family and others affected by the tragedy.
“This is a time to really save a thought for this family,” Ryan said, emphasizing the loss suffered by the family and the trauma experienced by the children who were present.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate what led to the toddler entering the water and the circumstances surrounding the grandmother’s rescue. No names have been released as authorities continue their investigation.
