The body of a boy who drowned as his mother died trying to save him and his sister has been found.
Mason DeChhat, six, was tragically swept away Merrimack River in Amesbury, Massachusetts on June 9 with his sister, seven, who survived the ordeal.
Their mother Boua DeChhat, 29, died having entered the water to try and save her son before being overcome by the river.
On Sunday, it was announced that the body of Mason was discovered.
Mason DeChhat, six, was tragically swept away Merrimack River in Amesbury, Massachusetts on June 9
‘It is with a great sadness we must report the body of the young boy has been recovered,’ Amesbury police shared in a statement on Facebook.
A kayaker found his body about a half mile from where he was last seen, authorities said.
‘I saw something floating and I was hoping it was a stick, and then as I got closer realized what it was and called 911,’ the kayaker was quoted as saying.
‘It’s just awful.’
The remains were turned over to the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for official identification.
The search and rescue operation for the young boy had been suspended on Friday at 5pm due to the strong currents in the river, the Coast Guard said.
Mason, six, and his mother Boua, 29, died in the incident in the Massachusetts river
Captain Kailie Benson, Coast Guard Sector Boston Commander said: ‘It is always a difficult decision to suspend a search and rescue case, and even more painful when children are involved.’
When Mason got into difficulty, his father, 31, had returned to a car to get something before Boua jumped in to rescue her children despite not being able to swim.
When Mason’s father returned, he attempted to save his wife and daughter but could not reach them.
The current eventually carried Boua and her daughter inland but after the child made it to land, Boua was dragged under the water.
Sammy DeChhat wrote on Facebook: ‘My wife went to heaven a hero’.
Bystander Mark Bajko tried to administer to Boua but was unable to revive her.
‘I’m going as hard as I can,’ Bajko told WCVB.
‘I’ve already called 911 on my way over and I’m doing CPR and finally, a police officer taps me and says, ‘Hey let me take over.’
‘And he takes over and I stand up and in that moment and that second, a little girl stopped crying and yells, ‘My brother is still in the water.”
The family was visiting the river to fish and swim before they got into difficulty in the fast-moving river around 7pm.
The family was visiting the river to fish and swim before they got into difficulty in the fast-moving river
The seven-year-old girl was treated and released from Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport.
A memorial has been placed near the site of the tragedy and almost $100,000 has been raised for the family on GoFundMe.
Mason DeChhat was a kindergartner at Murkland Elementary School, which wrote to its pupils and parents on Friday offering grief counselling before Mason’s body was found.
The letter reads: ‘Grief has no set pattern and everyone experiences it differently.
‘Talk with your children, listen to them and seek support for them and yourself if needed.
‘Please know that, as always, the Murkland School community is strong and we are here to support you and your child in any way we can.’