Sivad Johnson
Born(1970-09-05)September 5, 1970
Detroit
DiedAugust 21, 2020(2020-08-21) (aged 49)
Detroit
NationalityAmerican
Other namesSivad Heshimu Johnson
Occupationfirefighter
Known fordied trying to save children from drowning

Sivad Heshimu Johnson was a 26 year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department when he perished while trying to save three children from drowning, on August 21, 2020.[1][2]

Johnson was off-duty, visiting Belle Island, a recreational attraction, with his daughter, when he heard the cries of three sisters.[1][3] Johnson and other on-lookers dived in.[4] The girls were saved, but Johnson was lost. His body was found the next day. Click on Detroit reported it was believed he may have been swept away by a rip current.[5]

In 2017 the Detroit Fire Department awarded Sergeant Johnson its Medal of Honor.[5] Johnson's father and brother also served as firefighters.

On April 16, 2019, Johnson provided a first person account of being trapped, while trying to rescue a civilian from a house fire.[6]

Johnson was also an artist and motivational speaker.[7] Johnson's name Sivad is Davis, backwards, a way to honor his mother, whose maiden name was Davis.[8]

Detroit was introducing a new fireboat, and, on August 31, 2020, it was announced that the new vessel would be named Sivad Johnson.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ariana Taylor (2020-08-31). "City honors firefighter who died saving children in Detroit River". The Detroit News. p. A17. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2020-09-01. During the memorial, fire commissioner Eric Jones announced the newest fireboat, one that is faster and equipped with the latest technology to respond quickly and more effectively in searches, will be named after Johnson.
  2. 1 2 "A Hero's Honor: Detroit Fireboat Named For Sergeant Who Drowned In Belle Isle Rescue". Deadline Detroit. 2020-09-01. Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01. Admirers spoke Monday outside Detroit Public Safety Headquarters during a memorial ceremony (videos below) where Fire Commissioner Eric Jones said a new fireboat is named in his honor, Ariana Taylor reports for The News, which has a gallery of 24 photos.
  3. ↑ Allyson Waller (2020-08-23). "Detroit Firefighter Dies Trying to Save Girls From Drowning". The New York Times. p. A17. Archived from the original on 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-09-01. Sgt. Sivad Johnson, 49, a 26-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department, was visiting Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park in the Detroit River, with his 10-year-old daughter, Hayden, on Friday evening when he heard witnesses say three young girls were drowning, said Eric Jones, the Detroit fire commissioner.
  4. ↑ Jason Duaine Hahn (2020-08-25). "Detroit Firefighter Drowns After Trying to Save 3 Girls from River: 'He Was Always a Hero'". People magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-09-01. 'He and two other civilians heard either one child or up to three children struggling in the water,' Detroit Fire Department Executive Fire Commissioner Eric Jones told WDIV. 'Sgt. Johnson, along with other civilians, entered the water to make a rescue of the children.'
  5. 1 2 Rod Meloni; Kayla Clarke (2020-08-31). "Memorial service honors Detroit Fire Department sergeant who drowned while rescuing children". Click on Detroit. Detroit. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2020-12-09. It is believed Johnson may have been dragged underwater by a rip current.
  6. ↑ Sivad Johnson (2019-04-16). "To Bravely Do or Bravely Die". The Moth (podcast). Archived from the original on 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01. Sivad Johnson takes us behind the scenes of the Detroit Fire Department.
  7. ↑ Chanel Stitt (2020-08-24). "Detroit firefighter Sivad Johnson remembered as great father, artist, storyteller". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2020-09-23. 'I didn't have much in common with him in a lot of ways, but he was a true artist in that he was able to show that we are all connected,' Wheeler said. 'Sivad touched me and touched every person who heard his story deeply. His message of making every day a good day is going to live on in all of us.'
  8. ↑ Shawn Ley (2020-09-11). "Detroit fire boat named in honor of fallen firefighter Sivad Johnson". Click on Detroit. Detroit. Archived from the original on 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-12-09. Sivad was named after his mother. His mother's maiden name was Davis, and Sivad is Davis spelled backyards. It was her way of keeping that name with him.
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