Andrew Reischl

Andrew Reischl helped rescue a man from drowning, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 10, 2022. After an accident, a 46-year-old man remained in the driver’s seat of a sport utility vehicle that was submerged in the Milwaukee River, which had a temperature in the low 40s, about 100 feet from the near bank and 2 feet below the surface. Among those responding to the scene in a county park was Reischl, 34, a police officer with water-rescue training who arrived after two other officers had swum out to the SUV then returned to the bank. Although a dive team was en route, Reischl removed his ballistic vest and duty belt, collected a seat belt cutting tool, and entered the dangerously cold water in his uniform at the near bank. Reischl swam to the driver’s door and held onto the roof’s cargo bar, while one of the previous officers followed him and swam to the hood. After determining that the driver’s window was slightly down, Reischl kicked at it until it lowered completely. Reischl then reached inside, felt that the man was motionless, and cut his seat belt. Reischl then briefly submerged and pulled on the man, who exited through the window opening as the other officer also grasped him. Reischl and the officer then swam the man toward the near bank with the current pulling them downriver. Near wadable water, other officers met them and helped to drag the man onto the bank, where officers tried to revive him. The man, who was taken to a hospital, survived. Reischl, who was shivering after being mostly immersed in the water for 2 minutes, went to a hospital as a precaution but was not injured.