Mississippi Teen Rescues Three Girls and Officer From Drowning

A Mississippi teen is being hailed a hero after saving three girls and a police officer from a river. Moss Point city officials presented Corion Evans with a certificate of commendation for his heroism and bravery in rescuing four people. One of the teens rescued said the GPS thought they were on the interstate and because the area was pitch black, they had no idea they were even near water until their car plunged in. She said she’s very grateful Corion was in the right place at the right time.

Evans was at a boat ramp in Moss Point, MS at 2:30am when the three girls, who were following their GPS, drove into the Pascagoula River. The girls managed to get on the roof of the car as it started to sink and dial 911. Evans heard them crying for help and immediately jumped into the water. The car had sunk quickly and only the roof of the vehicle with the girls on top was visible. Moss Point Police Officer Gary Mercer arrived on the scene, and he too swam out to aid in the rescue. During the rescue, Officer Mercer was pushed under water by a struggling victim and swallowed water. Mercer called out for help and Evans immediately went back to save him.

Evans said “‘They need to get out the water’. So, I just started getting them, I wasn’t even thinking about nothing else. 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 I can walk. I was just like, ‘I can’t let none of these folks die.”

Evans has been a strong swimmer since the age of 3 and didn’t hesitate to jump in the river. The car had floated 25 yards from shore when Evans dove in the water but his thoughts were only on rescuing everyone. “Twenty-five yards out, 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” Evans said.

Evans’ mother, Marquita, expressed relief and spoke proudly of her son in the wake of the rescue. “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 of the water.”