DETROIT — The body of an off-duty Detroit firefighter who helped save two girls from drowning was recovered Saturday morning, authorities said.
Sgt. Sivad Johnson’s body was found in the Detroit River by the Detroit Police Department and Detroit Fire Department divers, according to a tweet from the Michigan State Police.
The victim from last nights drowning has been recovered by DPD and DFD divers. Units are clearing the scene now. This is the final update. pic.twitter.com/9g2ssk0and
— MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) August 22, 2020
According to Detroit Fire Department Director Dave Fornell, Johnson’s body was found in the river near Belle Isle, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Johnson, 48, was a 26-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department, the newspaper reported. Police believe Johnson may have been dragged under the water by a rip current before anyone noticed he was missing, police said.
Johnson was off-duty and walking with his 10-year-old daughter near the Detroit River on Friday evening when he heard three young girls calling for help from the water, The Detroit News reported.
“He’s a firefighter, he saw the girls in distress and jumped in. He’s done that his entire career,” Fornell told the newspaper. “Something happened and it’s unfortunate to have lost one of our own that way.”
One civilian jumped into the river and rescued one girl, CNN reported. Boaters rescued the other two girls, Fornell told reporters.
Breaking News update: The body of missing Detroit Fire Department Sergeant, Sivad Johnson, has been recovered. https://t.co/ibtuF3nrrD
— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) August 22, 2020
The search began after Johnson’s daughter called 911 to report her father was missing.
Johnson was a native of Detroit. He came from a family of firefighters, including his father and brother, the Free Press reported. Fornell said Johnson also volunteered with a heavy rescue company, helping to put out fires and helping remove people from vehicles after accidents.
Johnson was awarded the Detroit Fire Department Medal of Valor in 2017, WDIV reported.
In June 2018, Johnson took listeners behind the scenes at the Detroit Fire Department on the Moth Podcast, the television station reported.
Fornell said Johnson was a respected member of the fire department who mentored young firefighters, the Free Press reported.
“From what I hear from the people who worked with him, he was a tremendous leader, a firemen’s fireman, he touched a lot of people,” Fornell said. “The biggest thing was he jumped in the river there to rescue some kids he didn’t even know. He was off-duty and with his 10-year-old daughter.”
Cox Media Group
