The Chattanooga Fire Department is recognizing the first responders who saved a man’s life at Harrison Bay State Park Marina, including an off-duty Chattanooga firefighter.
The recognition will be held at Station 10 (910 Wisdom St.) on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and will include local and state agencies.
Officials said, "On May 31, 2021 during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, there was a citizen at the Harrison Bay State Park Marina who found himself in dire need of help.
An elderly gentleman, while walking on the dock, ended up falling into Chickamauga Lake. If not for the quick reactions of Lt. Christopher Newby, who was off-duty at the time, the man could have been in serious danger of drowning. Lt. Newby was able to hold onto the distressed citizen while officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Division responded with proper flotation devices. They were able to pull the citizen out of the water. Once the citizen was out of the water, Rangers with the Tennessee State Parks tended to his wounds until Hamilton County EMS arrived on the scene."
“The quick actions of the officers and the off-duty Chattanooga fireman directly contributed to the saving of a citizen in peril,” TWRA officials stated.
Lt. Newby said, “I was just in the right place at the right time. I noticed him and rushed over to help. He had a bad cut on his hand and he was disoriented. I did what any other off duty firefighter would have done in that situation. I’m just glad that he’s alright.”