Christian W. Smith

Christian W. Smith rescued a 34-year-old man from drowning, Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 1, 2020. The man jumped from a pedestrian bridge into the Grand River. Smith, 27, was also on the bridge and saw the man in the river, which was higher than normal due to a recent storm. Smith ran from the bridge to the bank of the river, where he jumped into the 60-degree water and swam about 325 feet to the man, who was just below the surface of the water when he reached him. Smith held the man against his chest with one arm and used the other arm and his legs to swim, towing the man to the bank which was about 700 feet downstream from where Smith entered the water. Using all his strength Smith, pushed the man up onto the bank and then exited the water. A rescue boat arrived and took the man to safety. The man was treated at a hospital for near drowning.