Teen Hailed as Holiday Weekend Hero for Rescuing Police Officer and 3 Girls from Drowning

• A vehicle plunges into the Pascagoula River in Moss Point in the early morning hours on holiday weekend.
• Teen Corion Evans got all 3 occupants of the vehicle to safety and also one officer who responded at the scene.
• Corian Evans and the officer got commended by the city and is now hailed as a hero.

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Weekends are a teenagers’ time to kick back, relax and have some fun.  But on this holiday weekend, one teen emerged as a hero for three females and 1 police officer.

While following her GPS, a driver did not realize that they were drawing near water in Moss Point, Jackson County and were driving off Pascagoula River. Their vehicle plunged into the water, floated about 20 feet, and began to sink.  The driver and two of her companions managed to get out of the car and climbed onto its roof.

Corion Evans, 16, saw them, he said, “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.”

Police Officer Garry Mercer responded to the emergency and was helping one occupant of the car to shore, when the occupant panicked. In the process, Mercer swallowed water and was now having difficulty breathing.

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.”

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

In a release, Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley commended Evans for the “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.”

During a regular meeting of the city where Evans and Officer Mercer were commended, Mayor Billy Knight said, “We are proud of the young man for having the courage to forget about himself and jump into the water. He added, “It’s not often enough that you see people put others above themselves.”

Moss Point has gained a hero in Evans.   

Source: USA Today