A teenage boy from Mississippi is being called a hero in his home state after saving four people, including a police officer, who were in danger of drowning.
Good Morning America says that Corion Evans, who is now 16 years old, was in Moss Point, Mississippi when he saw a car driving straight into the Pascagoula River. About 20 feet from the water’s edge, the car started to float, but then, all of a sudden, it started to sink with the three teenage girls still inside.
The Moss Point Police Department has put out the following statement: “The driver of that vehicle stated she was following her GPS and did not realize she was going into the water.”
How great is this! 16-year-old Corion Evans jumped into action to save four people when a vehicle drove off a boat launch and into the Pascagoula River! https://t.co/dpn5C0CUVT pic.twitter.com/oX7MEcJlgz
— WLBT 3 On Your Side (@WLBT) July 5, 2022
Luckily, Corion was there for the whole thing, which was a good thing. People say that he took off his shoes and shirt before getting into the water as the car began to sink.
The brave young person, who goes to Pascagoula High School, told WLOX: “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. I wasn’t even thinking about nothing else.”
One of Corion’s other friends is said to have waded into the river to help the girls climb onto the roof of the sinking car.
Corion added: “I just started getting them. I wasn’t even thinking about nothing else.”
If you have never been to Mississippi, this story speaks to how special the people are in this place we call home…
Corion Evans – a 16 year old from Pascagoula – and his friend saved three lives AND helped the police officer to safety.
Thanks Corion!https://t.co/nWpefKtLtI
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) July 6, 2022
Officer Gary Mercer of the Moss Point Police Department was the first person to get there, but he got into trouble when one of the girls he was bringing to shore “began to panic, which caused him to go under and swallow some water.”
Officer Mercer was in danger, but thanks to Corion’s quick thinking, he was able to find him and save him as well.
“I turned around. I see the police officer. He’s drowning. He’s going underwater, drowning, saying, ‘Help!’” Corion 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.”
Officer Mercer and the three teenage girls were taken to the hospital after they were hurt. It is expected that everyone will get better completely.
Moss Point Chief Brandon Ashley said the following in a statement: “The police department and I commend Mr. Evans’s bravery and selflessness he displayed by risking his own safety to help people in danger.
“If Mr. Evans had not assisted, it could have possibly turned out tragically instead of all occupants rescued safely.”
A city in Mississippi honors 16 year old Corion Evans for saving three people and a police officer from a river accident. https://t.co/V1HFrRephS
— Complex (@Complex) July 7, 2022
On Tuesday, Moss City officials gave Corion a commendation certificate for his bravery.
Marquita Evans, the teen’s happy mother, said the following to WLOX: “I’m glad nothing happened to him while he was trying to save other people’s lives.
“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.”
Corion said that he has been a swimmer ever since he was three years old, to give an example.
“Twenty-five yards out, so it was a lot of swimming. My legs were so tired after,” he said. “Anything could’ve been in that water, though. But I wasn’t thinking about it.”
We’re thankful to God that Corion was there to help and showed bravery that we can all learn from. Officer Mercer and these three girls were saved at the last minute because of him.
