(WWJ) The Detroit Fire Department is mourning one of their own, a hero who drowned in the Detroit River trying to save three young girls.
Michigan State Police say the body of Sergeant Sivad Johnson, a 26-year veteran of the department, was recovered around 1 pm Saturday.
Fire officials say Johnson was near Belle Isle with his 10-year-old daughter Friday night, when he heard the girls crying for help.
“He gave his wallet and keys to his daughter,” Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner, Captain Dave Fornell, told WWJ. “He jumped right in.”
Johnson knew the risks, according to Fornell.
“He didn’t even hesitate even though he knew there were currents. There’s even a sign here that says 'danger no swimming'. He just disregarded his own safety. He just jumped in. That’s what firefighters do," Fornell said.
Another civilian also jumped in. Together, they got one of the girls out. A boat rescued the other two.
However, Johnson never resurfaced.
“When all the hustle and bustle was over, the 10-year-old (Johnson’s daughter) realized her father was missing and called 9-1-1,” Fornell told WWJ.
FOX 2 reports Sergeant Johnson won the Medal of Valor in 2017.
“His colleagues here tell me he was one heck of a guy,” Fornell said. “Tremendously strong, a great firefighter and it’s a tragic loss to the Detroit Fire Department.”
In a presentation Johnson did for The Moth NPR Podcast, "The Art of Story Telling"; he said he and his brother are both second generation firefighters. Johnson's bio said he was a father of two young children, a native Detroiter and an artist since he was a young boy who has had his work featured on television, newsprints, children’s books, “even the fashion runway.”
The title of his story on The Moth was “To Bravely Do Or Bravely Die.”
To hear Johnson's whole speech, click here.
“I know we can’t save everybody, but we try,” Johnson said during his story. “It never feels right to lose a human life when we were called to rescue them.”