It was 2:30 a.m. when Corion Evans, 16, saw a car with three people inside it drive into the river.
According to People, the Moss Point Police Department said the car’s driver said she was led astray by GPS directions she was following. Whatever the reason, the car went out 20 feet from shore and started to sink into the river, according to WLOX-TV.
“I was just like, ‘I can’t let none of these folks die. They need to get out the water’. So, I just started getting them,” he said. “I wasn’t even thinking about nothing else.”
Karon “KJ” Bradley, who was with Evans, helped get the three teenage girls — who were in the car — out of the vehicle and onto the roof so Evans could get them to shore.
“I was behind them trying to keep them above water and swim with them at the same time,” he said.
Moss Point Police Officer Gary Mercer responded but was having a hard time staying afloat.
“I turned around. I see the police officer,” Evans said. “He’s drowning. He’s going underwater, drowning, saying, ‘Help!’” Evans recalled.
“So, I went over there. I went and I grabbed the police officer and I’m like swimming him back until I feel myself I can walk.”
“They was out there throwing up because a lot of water had got inside all of them,” Evans said. “Twenty-five yards out, so it was a lot of swimming. My legs were so tired after.”
Cora Watson, one of the girls Evans rescued, said in a Facebook post that Evans “saved my life right before my last breath.”
Marquita Evans was proud of her son.
“I was really proud of Corion because he wasn’t just thinking about himself. He was trying to really get all those people out the water,” she said. “I’m glad nothing happened to him while he was trying to save other people’s lives.”
On Tuesday, Evans joined Mercer as they each received commendations from the city, according to USA Today.
“We are proud of the young man for having the courage to forget about himself and jump into the water,” Mayor Billy Knight said. “It’s not often enough that you see people put others above themselves.”
16-Year-Old Rescues 3 Drowning Teens and 1 Cop as Car Sinks, Says 'I Can't Let None of These Folks Die' (westernjournal.com)
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