Brave Teen Boy Rescues 3 Girls and a Cop from Drowning

Sometimes, things don’t work out the way people expect. Like the three Mississippi girls, according to WAFB 9 News, apparently paying too much attention to GPS and not enough to the Pascagoula River, which they’d driven into. Or for Moss Point Police Officer Gary Mercer, who’d seen the girls’ car had plunged into the river, his only thought was to rescue them.

The officer jumped in and swam to the girls, who’d climbed onto the roof of the sinking car. While rescuing one girl, she panicked, grabbing at the officer, causing him to swallow a mouthful of water and choke.

On the shore was 16-year-old Corion Evans, who said he’s been swimming since he was 3 years old. He chucked his phone, shirt, and shoes and jumped in. He told WLOX, “They drove straight under the water. Like, only a little bit of the car was still above the water.”

He said he swam along with the girls, helping them stay above water, as they made their way toward shore. Officer Mercer was swimming behind them, but swallowing the water had affected his breathing. Out of breath, the cop began to go under.

Evans said, “I turned around. I see the police officer. He’s drowning. He’s going underwater, drowning, saying, ‘Help!’ So, I went over there. I went and I grabbed the police officer and I’m like swimming him back.”

Evans said all he thought about was, “I can’t let none of these folks die.” He also said, “I wasn’t even thinking about nothing else.”

Officer Mercer and the girls are recovering after being treated at a local hospital.

Both Evans and Mercer received commendations for jumping into the river to rescue the girls (and Evans also for rescuing Mercer).

Moss Point Chief of Police Brandon Ashley said, as reported by FOX News, “We commend Mr. Evans’ bravery and selflessness he displayed by risking his own safety to help people in danger. If Mr. Evans had not assisted, the situation could have turned out differently, instead of all occupants being rescued safely.”

WFAB also reported, “One of the girls took to Facebook and said Evans, ‘saved my life right before my last breath.’”

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Steve Pomper

Steve Pomper is an author, freelance writer, and retired Seattle police officer. During his career, he served as a field training officer, on the Community Police Team, and as a mountain bike patrol coordinator. He’s written five books, including The Obama Gang and De-Policing America, and he is a contributor to the National Police Association and a freelance writer for The Tatum Report.

Originally from New England, he’s a Boston sports fan. He now lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Jody, a retired firefighter. He enjoys spending time with his adult kids and three grandchildren.