A UPS driver is being hailed as a hero after he saved a man who jumped off a bridge in Rockford, Illinois, Tuesday.
Jeff Hermansen, 40, told authorities he was driving his UPS truck on the East Street bridge over the Rock River around 12:45 p.m. when he saw a
man in the river, the Rockford Register Star reported. The UPS driver then pulled over his truck, raced to the river bank, took off his shoes, and waded into the water.
Hermansen swam about 15 feet into Rock River before reaching the man and bringing him to shore. The river can be dangerous this time of the season because of its fast current and
cold water, authorities told The Associated Press.
Hermansen, who had a set of dry clothes brought to him, declined medical treatment and went back to work.
"To put his life at risk for another human being that he didn't even know says a lot," Rockford fire chief Derek Bergsten told the Register Star. "We tried to get him to headquarters to get him a dry shirt and pants and he said, 'I'm going to keep on my route.'"
The unidentified jumper who Hermansen saved was taken to a hospital for a physical and mental evaluation.
Hermansen said he went into the river after the man because he felt he could not stand by while a person drowned. His efforts won the praise of numerous people on social media.
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