Detroit Firefighter, Sgt. Sivad Johnson, Died a Hero after Saving Three Drowning Girls at a Beach
American firefighter, Sgt. Sivad Johnson portrayed true heroism as he sacrificed his life to save three drowning girls, leaving behind two daughters.
Grief struck the members of the Detroit firefighters service last week when they lost one of their own, Sgt. Sivad Johnson.
While off-duty, Johnson had visited the Belle Isle beach on August 21 with his daughter, 10. At about 9.00 pm, he heard screams for help from the Detroit River.
He promptly dove into the water to save the girls. Another helper dove after the veteran to help out and succeeded in rescuing one girl while a nearby boat retrieved the other two.
A firefighter looks on during a mission on August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin | Photo: Getty Images
Unfortunately, no one noticed that Johnson was still in the lake. When his daughter realized that her dad was not among the crowd, she told the police that her father was still in the water.
In another story of heroism in the face of danger, a similar occurence was reported a couple of months before Johnson's passing.
Sgt. Sivad Johnson, a 26-year veteran Detroit firefighter, was off duty and with his 10-year-old daughter when he saw three girls signal they were having trouble swimming. https://t.co/5KFdPl6cTM
— CNN (@CNN) August 24, 2020
According to Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell, it was only then that the search for Johnson commenced.
The search team didn't find the deceased officer's body until the following day when sonar equipment was introduced into the search. Later that afternoon, his body was recovered.
A well-wisher named Ronald Jones created a "GoFundMe" account to help support the family of the late Detroit firefighter. Many sympathizers have contributed to the cause of the bereaved family.
He died a hero. Crews have recovered Detroit Fire Sgt. Sivad Johnson's body after he went missing while helping save three girls from drowning. https://t.co/morWNUl6ZW
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) August 24, 2020
A target of $100,000 was set for the fund collection account, and so far, about $84,000 has been gathered among one thousand five hundred well-wishers.
The veteran firefighter who has been working with the Detroit Fire Department for 26 years left behind two daughters aged 17 and 10. He was also decorated with the Medal of Valor in 2017.
Over the weekend the Moth lost a bright light in our community. Sgt. Sivad Johnson was a hero in every sense of the word. His smile was infectious and his love for his friends and family was deep. (1/7) pic.twitter.com/F6DmXPrH1U
— The Moth (@TheMoth) August 25, 2020
While speaking of his brother, Jamal Johnson recounted that he was "always a hero" to him, calling his brother, his "idol."
He admitted that it was a tough time for the family, mainly because he would have turned another year on September 5.
Crews on Saturday recovered the body of Detroit Fire Sgt. Sivad Johnson, who vanished into the Detroit River while helping save some girls from drowning.https://t.co/r9S3uPQ4te
— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) August 23, 2020
Detroit Fire Department Executive Fire Commissioner Eric Jones gave his testament to the events that led to the firefighter's death.
He recalled that the "Medal of Valor" awardee had been swimming in the river with his 10-year-old daughter when he heard the cries for help.
Likewise, the Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan offered his condolences to the bereaved family, saying that the "thoughts of every single Detroiter" were with the family.
17-Year-Old Boy Drowns in Calif. Lake While Saving 12-Year-Old Friend Who Couldn't Swim https://t.co/yDOoi0M16N
— People (@people) July 2, 2020
In another story of heroism in the face of danger, a similar occurrence was reported a couple of months before Johnson's passing. A 17-year-old drowned while saving his 12-year-old friend who could not swim.
Reports have it that the incident occurred on a Sunday at Lake Camanche in Burson at around 12:25 pm. The victim was said to have suffered a cramp in his leg and went underwater after successfully getting his friend to safety.
