Latest local news, weather, high school sports in the Rio Grande Valley

Esmeralda Martinez describes her 16-year-old niece Elsa Flores as a fun loving kind of girl with her whole life ahead of her.

"She loved to live---unfortunately her life was cut too short," Martinez said.

Her young life cut short by a split second decision to go swimming in a Donna canal.

Both Elsa and her friend were swept away by the under current and both girls struggled to stay above water.

Another friend, still on the banks of the canal, started screaming for help.

Help arrived but it was too late for Elsa.

She was rushed to the hospital and was put on life support. 

"We couldn't keep her like that anymore,” Martinez said. “There was nothing we could do---she was out of our hands and out of the doctors hands."

The decision to take Elsa off of life support was made Thursday. She was pronounced dead shortly after 7p.m.

"We have to accept this,” Martinez said. “Hopefully everything will be alright."

Martinez said she never thought twice about swimming in the canals. It was something she did when she was little girl.

After losing her niece to the dangerous waters, she said she will never go in there again.

"After going through this and seeing everything that she went through and what they're taking out of her---it's not right,” Martinez said. “That water is very dirty."

The family’s only chance at closure is to know that Elsa’s tragic death is a wakeup call to her children who might consider swimming in canals.

Martinez said perhaps now people will obey ‘No Trespassing’ signs---something that could mean the difference between life and death.

Visitation for Flores will be held Sunday Hawkins Funeral Home in Donna from 2pm until 9pm---with a rosary at 7pm.

Funeral services will be Monday at 3pm at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Donna---the burial will follow at Donna city cemetery.

The family is also accepting donations at any First National Bank under the account ‘Benefit for Elsa Flores.’