Being a hero is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice.
If you found yourself in a situation where you could do something to alter the results, would you?
It’s the question we’ve all asked.
When Corion Evans saw three girls at a party, no one would’ve guessed how their lives would be intertwined from there on.
What started as a good time turned into a nightmare, which ended in a blessed encounter.
In the wee hours of the morning, Evans witnessed a car plunge into the Pascagoula River.
The car had three girls inside.
It was the same girls Evans saw at a party nearby. He saw the car drive off the I-10 boat launch.
After crashing into the river, the car floated about 20 feet.
Then water started coming in.
As the vehicle sank, the girls desperately climbed out of the windows and onto the roof of the vehicle.
Without hesitation, Evans jumped into the river and swam toward the girls.
He shared with ABC that he took off his shirt and shoes, then tossed his phone then jumped into the water.
By that time, the water was dark and the light was scarce. It never deterred him, however, and he remained focused on keeping everyone calm for their own safety.
He was already in the water when a policeman also came to the girls’ rescue.
Officer Garry Mercer responded to the scene.
The policeman also jumped into the water and carried one of the girls on her back. That was when the girl began to panic.
Officer Mercer was trying to swim back up but he kept swallowing water. At that moment, Evans swam behind the officer and pushed them both to safety.
Faulty GPS
The driver said that the accident was caused by a faulty GPS.
She said she was following her GPS but the system thought they were on I-10. It was too late when she realized they were headed for the water.
To make matters worse, she shared that the were no lights or warning signs that were visible. She said everything was “just pitch black”.
Eventually, everyone made it back to safety.
For his efforts, the Moss Point Police Department and Mayor Billy Knight presented him and Officer Mercer with commendations.
“If Mr. Evans had not assisted, the situation could have turned out differently, instead of all occupants being rescued safely,” said Moss Point Chief of Police Brandon Ashley in a statement.
There was more.
Saving the girls’ life and the commendation weren’t the only blessings he got.
Evans, who will be a senior at Pascagoula High School coming this fall, shared that he wanted to take physical therapy or sports medicine once he graduates.
To help repay his kindness and heroism, the community started a GoFundMe page for his college expenses.
The goals was for $75,000.
It has since well surpassed that. Evans said:
“I wasn’t supposed to be there. When I ran into that water I was supposed to have already been gone. I feel that I’m being blessed for what I did that night.”
See Corion risk his own safety to save four people in the video below!
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