Watch Ga. Officers Leap into River to Save Woman Trapped Under Dock

Feb. 11, 2022

Body camera footage captured two Savannah police officers jumping into the water to rescue a woman who plunged off the Little River Bridge and could be heard gurgling under a nearby dock.

By Mark Price

Source The Charlotte Observer

Two Savannah, GA, police officers leaped into a river to rescue a woman who plunged into the water and was trapped under a dock Tuesday.

A woman who plummeted from a Georgia bridge was rescued when two police officers heard “gurgling” under a nearby dock and leaped into the water to pull her out.

It happened Tuesday, Feb. 8, along the Little River Bridge in Savannah, according to the Savannah Police Department in northeast Georgia.

The woman survived, but her identity and condition have not been released.

Investigators say officers were called to the bridge around 5:15 p.m. “after someone witnessed a woman leaning far over the bridge,” according to a news release. A video released by the department reveals the woman wasn’t wearing shoes when passersby saw her.

“Oh, my God, she just jumped. She just jumped,” one caller told a 9-1-1 operator.

The woman quickly “disappeared under the water,” officials said. Personnel from multiple departments joined a search area, including some using boats borrowed from people who live in the area, officials said.

“After searching the area for some time, officers heard gurgling and found that the woman was under the water under the dock that some of them were standing on,” officials said. “The officers on the dock attempted to pull her up but were unsuccessful.”

Realizing the woman may not survive much longer, “Sgt. Sharif Lockett and Officer William Fitzpatrick — jumped into the water and collectively worked to pull the woman onto the dock.”

Video shows a group took the woman from the two officers and pulled her onto the dock. She was treated by EMS personnel at the scene, officials said.

“We are so proud of all of the officers involved for their joint rescue actions,” Chief Roy Minter said in the release.

“It was definitely a team effort for all officers, first responders and citizens involved — from the extensive search to the rescue. We know that had these officers not responded and acted so quickly that this could have had a tragic outcome.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800 273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

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