Hero Detroit Firefighter Makes Ultimate Sacrifice While Trying To Save Three Children Drowning In River

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In Detroit, Michigan, a fire sergeant is being celebrated as a true hero after giving his life to save a group of children from drowning in the Detroit River. The incident took place on August 21. Sergeant Sivad Johnson, age 48, was close to the river with his 10-year-old daughter when suddenly they heard three young girls in the water crying out for help. Along with a few other bystanders, Johnson dove into the river to save the kids, reports the Detroit Free Press. Two of the children were saved after being picked up by a nearby boat, and another bystander rescued the other. However, the brave sergeant never resurfaced.

His daughter contacted 911, and a search team started looking for the fire sergeant. Divers from the Detroit Fire Department and Michigan State Police managed to retrieve his body the next day, reports MSP.

“It is believed the father may have been dragged underwater by the rip-current and no one noticed,” the department wrote on Twitter.

Sgt. Johnson is survived by his two daughters, ages 10 and 17, his father and brother reports WDIV-TV.

Dave Fornell, the Detroit Fire Department deputy commissioner, informed The Detroit News that despite the fact he died while off duty, the organization plans to treat the brave Sergeant’s death as a line-of-duty loss of life.

“From what I hear from the people who worked with him, he was a tremendous leader, a firemen’s fireman, he touched a lot of people,” Fornell said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “The biggest thing was he jumped in the river there to rescue some kids he didn’t even know.”

Sgt. Johnson spoke during a live episode of “Moth Radio Hour” in 2018 and explained the sacrifice and courage his job demands.

The sergeant told the harrowing story of an incident that nearly killed him when he was briefly trapped inside a burning house. Only moments after his escape, he and his team re-entered the home and was able to save an older woman still inside.

The sergeant and his team got her outside, where she received emergency medical treatment. Sadly, she died later due to smoke inhalation.

“I know we can’t save everybody,” he said, “but we try.”

And in 2017, Sgt. Johnson was awarded the Detroit Public Safety Foundation’s Medal of Valor at their Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony after saving a victim during a fire that same year.

Following the hero’s tragic death, the foundation wrote:

“We honored Sergeant Sivad Johnson in 2017 for saving a life, while risking his own safety.

“We again stand in awe of his service, as he made the ultimate sacrifice in an attempt to save another person’s life. Sergeant Johnson, you lived and died a hero.”

Sgt. Johnson served with the Detroit Fire Department for 26 years, and his community is now rallying behind his family as they mourn their loss.

“He was my idol,” Jamal Johnson, Sgt. Sivad Johnson’s brother, told WDIV. “He was always a hero to me.”

There’s also a GoFundMe page set up to offer support to his family during this challenging time.

“This was my friend, my BEST childhood friend. I pray for peace to his family and for God to keep his daughters covered,” Andre Greenwood wrote. “This man was and always has been a solid and upstanding guy. I know that God has a purpose and a plan beyond our understanding. Love you Sivad, Job well done Brother.”

For more on this story, you can also watch a news report below.