A UPS driver is being hailed as a hero after he sprung into action by jumping in a river to save the life of man who leaped off a bridge.
The Rockford Register Star reported that on Tuesday, Jeff Hermansen, 40, was driving on the bridge just before 1:00 p.m. when he saw a man in the river. The UPS worker immediately pulled over his truck in order to help rescue the man.
CBS Chicago noted that Hermansen said he contemplated just jumping off the bridge himself to get to the man.
“Then I thought, I don’t know how deep it is. If I break my leg then they’re going to be fishing two guys out,” he explained.
He then rushed to the west bank of the Rockford River, removed his shoes and jumped in.
After swimming about 15 yards through the cold waters, Hermansen was able to pull the man to shore.
"To put his life at risk for another human being that he didn't even know says a lot," Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten said.
The UPS driver continued his shift after the rescue without any medical treatment or even drying off. Someone did bring him dry clothes though before he completed his routes for the day.
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