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 for Peaceful Family Vacations - Your Daily Prayer - July 15
Family gatherings aren’t always easy, but they’re full of opportunities. Here’s how God can use even stressful vacations to teach us about peace, perspective, and His faithful love.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peaceful Family Vacations - Your Daily Prayer - July 15
Family gatherings aren’t always easy, but they’re full of opportunities. Here’s how God can use even stressful vacations to teach us about peace, perspective, and His faithful love.
Past Stories
- At 103, She’s Her Bowling Team’s Oldest and Most Cheerful Player
- Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Saves 165 People From Camp Mystic, 'I Was Just Doing My Job'
- He Lost His Whole Family to a Flood, Ten Years Later, He’s There for Others in Texas
- Two Texas Sisters Share About Surviving the Flood at Camp Mystic
- Brave 12-Year-Old Boy is Honored After Saving His Family From a House Fire
- A Daughter Finds Connection to the Father She Never Knew Who Died in Vietnam
- She’s Raising Two Sons with a Rare Condition—and Showing Others How They Thrive
- A Neighbor's Call Saves the Life of a Newborn Baby Whose Mom Had Passed Away
- After Months of Paralysis and a Ventilator, Mom Talks to Young Son and Tells Him 'I Love You'
- Shelter Dog Detects a Stranger's Medical Emergency and Becomes a Hero
- Grieving the Loss of Their Daughter, They Chose to Keep Fostering Hope
- Gloria and Bernice, Identical Twins Turn 100, Celebrate Decades of Memories
- Father of Three Dies After Being Struck By Lightning While On Golf Course
- Married 18 Years, Parents of 4 Are Both Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer
- He Lost His Wife. She Lost Her Husband. Together, They Found a New Beginning
- She Earned Her Degree, Then Gave Her Dad a Second Chance at Life
- They Were Told Their Pup Had Been Hit By a Car, 4 Years Later They Found Her Alive
- New York Soccer Coach Collapses On the Field, Parents Jump in to Save Him
- Community Gathers to Remember 12-Year-Old Girl Who Died in a Scooter Accident
- After Surviving Family Tragedies, Stroke, and Coma, Teen Walks in Her Graduation Ceremony
- Civilian Stops to Save Woman in a Burning Car, 'It Could Have Been My Mom'
- They Adopted a Baby Boy, Then Extended Extraordinary Grace to His Birth Mother
- Cancer Survivor Shocks Everyone With His 4th Lottery Win
- Brian Wilson, Co-Founder of the Beach Boys, Passes Away at 82
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 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
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold

chris rupp Chris Rupp’s Soul-Stirring A Cappella Version of 'Beautiful Savior' Is a Must-Listen

Universal Music Group Dolly Parton, Blessing Offor Captivate In 'Somebody's Child' Official Video

toby mac TobyMac Releases Heartfelt Lyric Video for ‘Goodbye (For Gabe)’
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.