HICKORY, N.C. — Family members of seven-year-old Abel Friday-Williams, who drowned at a waterfall near a popular Hickory park, said people must know its dangers.
They hiked down a trail Thursday morning, leading to the small waterfall by Bruce Meisner Park.
Firefighters found the boy shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday at the bottom of the falls in a pond, investigators said.
Abel, who was there with a friend and an adult, may have been unsupervised at the time, deputies said. Those allegations are still under investigation.
Abel may have gone into the water to help a friend.
“It breaks my heart because he saved his friend and lost his,” said Brianna Sledge, Abel’s aunt. “He went in behind his friends to save his life and lost his.”
The city of Hickory said the drowning did not happen on park property and that the area is part of the city’s northwest wastewater treatment pump station.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty asked about the trail at the park. City leaders said they did not build the path and that area is not intended for public use.
Family members of the boy spoke with Faherty Thursday morning.
“There needs to be awareness that this is very dangerous. Just looking at the situation, it’s very, very, very dangerous,” said Abel’s cousin, Lashun Ramseur. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Resident Tara Rink was at the falls recently when a man jumped in to save a little girl.
“I assisted in pulling them out because there’s no way I could have gotten them out because the rocks are too slick,” Rink said. “It’s nothing but slime. It was terrifying.”
The Hickory mayor said the drowning is a tragedy, and city leaders will discuss what happened as they look at whether changes must be made.
Friday’s loved ones have started a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover funeral expenses and support his family. Anyone who wishes to donate or learn more can visit this link.
VIDEO: Child dies after drowning at Bruce Meisner Park in Hickory
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