BX Family Mourns After Boy Drowns in River

Police say Ebrima Wally was with his family at a block party when he ran off to play and somehow scaled a fence that runs along the river, accidentaly falling into the water

A 10-year-old boy drowned in the Harlem River Saturday after climbing over a guardrail and falling, his family and police said.

Ebrima Wally was with his family at a block party at the River Park Tower Apartments in the Morris Heights section of the of the Bronx, when he ran off to play near the river, police said. 

He somehow climbed up the guardrail and fell in.

After about 20 minutes an FDNY diver rescued Ebrima from the river, but emergency crews could not revive the boy and he later died at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, officials said.

Ebrima's grieving family gathered in their Bronx apartment Sunday to mourn their loss.

"I can see him no more, I don't see my son no more," said Ebrima's distraught mother Bantou Wally. "He loved me so much, every day he say 'Mommy, I love you.'"

A funeral for Ebrima was held Sunday afternoon, following Muslim tradition.

The family said they hoped this tragedy would convince the city to make improvements to the guardrails along the Harlem River.

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