Diving In to Save Lives

When this teen saw a car go into the water, he knew he had to help.

April 2023

Joshua Alston

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

WHO: Corion Evans

WHERE: Moss Point, Mississippi

HEROIC ACT: Saving three teens and a police officer from drowning

Corion helps a teen swim to the bank of the river.

Corion Evans was about to head home after a party at Mississippi’s Pascagoula River when he saw something he’ll never forget. A car swerved off the road and plunged into the water. It soon began to sink. Corion could hear the people trapped in the car screaming for help. “I couldn’t let those people die out there,” says Corion, 17. He took off his shoes and shirt and sprinted toward the water. “I didn’t think at all, I just took off running,” he says.

Luckily, Corion’s been an avid swimmer since he was 3 years old, so he was very comfortable in the water and confident in his swimming skills. He swam to the car and helped free the three teen girls trapped inside. The petrified teens climbed onto the roof of the car, then began swimming back to shore with Corion’s assistance.

Soon police officer Gary Mercer arrived and joined Corion in the rescue. But then one of the girls panicked and went underwater, pulling the officer with her. “I had just finished swimming and my legs were tired, but then I heard the officer yelling for help,” Corion said. He swam out to the car once more and helped both the girl and the officer back to shore.

Thanks to Corion’s bravery, everyone made it out of the river safely. The driver later explained that she had been following her GPS and didn’t notice it was leading her onto a boat ramp until it was too late.

In recognition for his daring water rescue, Corion was awarded a commendation from his town’s mayor. He also received an automatic lifeguard certification from the local YMCA. “They said I didn’t have to take the test for it because I had already shown I can do it,” the high school senior says. After Corion’s story went viral, a fan began a crowd-funding campaign to help him pay for college at Mississippi State University, where he plans to study engineering in the fall.

Corion says that even without the money and accolades, he would easily make the same choice again. “You don’t have to be an extraordinary person to save a life,” he says. “All you have to do is be willing to help.”