Heroic Off-Duty Firefighter Uses Final Moments To Save 3 Girls As His 10-Year-Old Daughter Watches
September 25, 2021

Off-duty firefighter Sivad Johnson was enjoying a day at the river with his 10-year-old daughter when he spotted three girls in trouble. The brave dad wasted no time jumping in to save them. Sadly, though, it cost him his life.
Sergeant Sivad Johnson and his 10-year-old daughter took a trip together to Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park in the Detroit River. But when the off-duty firefighter heard someone shouting that three girls were drowning, he knew he had to do something.
RELATED: Off-Duty ‘Angel’ Swoops In To Save Mom’s Limp 4-Year-Old Son At Pool
As a 26-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department, saving lives is just what Sergeant Johnson does. Sivad handed his keys and wallet to Hayden and took off running toward the emergency.
He and another Good Samaritan dove into the Detroit River and swam to the three girls in danger.
The rescuers succeeded in getting the girls to safety. But somewhere in the midst of the rescuers, authorities believe a rip current dragged the off-duty firefighter to his death.
As soon as Hayden realized her dad hadn't emerged from the river with the rest of the folks, she called 911. Her grandfather came and picked her up while crews searched for Sergeant Johnson.
Tragically, the next day, his body was discovered and his drowning confirmed.
Heroic Off-Duty Firefighter Honored
The tragic death of off-duty firefighter Sergeant Sivad Johnson hit his family hard. But it wasn't just his immediate family who mourned. His extended family at the Detroit Fire Department felt the loss deeply, too.
RELATED: Dad’s Final Moments Caught In Photo Just Before He Loses Life Saving Son
In fact, when the recovery crew brought Sergeant Johnson's body to the hospital, there were about 10 fire companies waiting there to salute him.
“I would say there was not a dry eye in the house,” said the deputy fire commissioner, Dave Fornell. “I’ve never seen as many firefighters as emotional as this. He was almost bigger than life. He just moved a lot of people.”
The deputy fire commission explained how Sivad Johnson was more than just a firefighter. To many of his colleagues, he was a mentor and a teacher who made their careers.
“He was just a magnificent man, soft-spoken, caring, truly a great human being,” said Eric Jones, the Detroit fire commissioner.
“He was always a hero to me,” said Sivad's brother, Jamal Johnson.
And now, Sergeant Sivad Johnson is a hero to many more people. Because of this off-duty firefighter's sacrifice, three lives were saved.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Man Overhears Guy Threatening His Date Until An Off-Duty Cop Slides Into Action
And the community is already chipping in to take care of the wife and two daughters he left behind. Let us all lift them up in prayer during this difficult time.
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends." John 15:13
WATCH: Off-Duty Firefighter Loses Life While Saving 3 Girls From Drowning
LISTEN: Manager Comes Out Of Popeyes Restaurant And Goes Up To Homeless Woman In Parking Lot
h/t: The New York Times
Featured Image: Detroit Fire Department/Youtube
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer of Blessing and Strength for Fathers - Your Daily Prayer - June 13
Dads, you matter more than you know—here’s a heartfelt prayer to strengthen and encourage you in the role God’s given you.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer of Blessing and Strength for Fathers - Your Daily Prayer - June 13
Dads, you matter more than you know—here’s a heartfelt prayer to strengthen and encourage you in the role God’s given you.
Past Stories
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
- Two Nurses Come to the Rescue of a Teen Girl in the Process of Being Kidnapped
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
- First Responders Rescue 9-Month-Old From House Fire By Going Through Window
- Playful Black Bear Climbs Playground and Rides the Slide, Just Like a Kid
- Singer Michael Bolton Opens Up About His Aggressive Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- Brave 5-Year-Old Climbs 35 Feet Up a Tree, Firefighters Rush to the Rescue
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
- 49-Year-Old Melanie Barratt Becomes First Blind Woman to Swim the English Channel
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Wows With 'God and Country' Live Performance

toby mac TobyMac's 'Nothin' Sweeter' Official Lyric Video

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Rendition of ‘The First Hymn’ Will Stir Your Soul

Jeremy Camp Jeremy Camp's Awe-Inspiring 'No Survivors' Live Performance

Passion Music Passion's Soul-Stirring 'Agnus Dei' Live Performance
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.