He was an angel in disguise!
A Mississippi teen saved three girls and an officer from drowning after the girls’ car sank in a local river, WLOX news reports.
16-year-old Corion Evans was at the right place at the right time last week. A vehicle drove off the I-10 boat launch into the Pascagoula River when Corion sprang into action to save the three girls inside.
“They drove straight under the water. Like, only a little bit of the car was still above the water,” Corion recalled the harrowing ordeal to reporters.
The car traveled about 20 feet away from the shore before sinking. When Corion saw the girls trying to get out, he threw his shirt, shoes, and phone and just jumped in. One of Corion’s friends, Karon “KJ” Bradley, also joined in the rescue efforts to get the girls to safety.
“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,” said Corion.
A student at Pascagoula High School, Corion said he’s been swimming since he was about three years old. But even with his expert skills, the rescue was still a struggle. Not only did he have to help the three girls to shore, Moss Point Police Officer Gary Mercer, who responded to the scene and swam out to help, also began having trouble staying afloat.
“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 until I feel myself I can walk…They was out there throwing up because a lot of water had got inside all of them. 25 yards out, so it was a lot of swimming. My legs were so tired after. Anything could’ve been in that water, though. But I wasn’t thinking about it,” Corion explained.
Chief Brandon Ashley praised the teen’s heroic efforts, saying, “The police department and I commend Mr. Evans’ 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.”
Corion’s mother, Marquita Evans, said she’s so proud of her son and glad that everyone was ok.
“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. I’m glad nothing happened to him while he was trying to save other people’s lives,” she said.
One of the girls, Cora Watson, took to social media to thank Corion saying, “He saved my life right before my last breath.”
All three girls and Officer Mercer were taken to the hospital afterward and are expected to make a full recovery. The city of Moss Point recognized Corion for his heroic actions, presenting him with a Certificate of Commendation from Mayor Billy Knight and the Board of Alderman during the city’s recent board meeting.
Photo Courtesy of Corion Evans