Jacksonville police say a quick, decisive rescue by Officer Robert Green saved a man from drowning early Sunday morning near Memorial Park in Riverside.
Just after midnight, officers were sent to the St. Johns River after a caller reported someone struggling in the water. When District 5 patrol officers reached the riverbank, they saw the man being carried downstream by a strong current. One officer tried to reach him with a rescue line, but it wasn’t enough.
Officer Green, who worked as a lifeguard before joining the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, immediately shed his ballistic vest and gun belt and dove into the river. Knowing how dangerous the current is in that stretch, he swam out, reached the man, and pulled him back toward the bulkhead. Other officers helped bring him out of the water and began caring for him until Jacksonville Fire and Rescue arrived.
The man was barely conscious, disoriented, and had taken in a large amount of water, but he was transported to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover. Police say he appeared intoxicated and had likely been leaving bars in the area before ending up in the river.
Officials say the department and JFRD both have rescue boats, but Green recognized the man didn’t have time to wait.
JSO credited Officer Green and the responding District 5 officers for the fast actions that prevented a tragedy and used the incident as a reminder to drink responsibly.
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