While driving to work June 23 by the Cabin John Creek in Bethesda, Tyrone Robinson caught a glimpse of a woman with one foot over the bridge, looking like she was about to jump.
What happened next highlights the heroism police officers are called on to respond with every day.
He pulled over to the side of the road and ran to help. When he could not see the woman, he ran down a ramp and into the water. He made it to the woman, who was described as in her fifties, and held her head up above the water while continually yelling for help.
Montgomery County Officer Michael Chindblom answered his call and struggled down some boulders to get to Robinson and the woman. Together, they were able to get the woman, who they both described as basically unresponsive and breathing faintly, to the other side of the creek.
There, they were assisted by Montgomery County Police Sgt. David Hall, Officer John Chabala and Naval Fire Rescue Inspector Rich Cavey.
Despite their best heroic efforts, the woman did not survive. Chindblom said he believed, “She made the choice to go over.”
“The victim didn’t ultimately survive, but they gave her a chance,” said County Executive Marc Elrich as he read certificates of appreciation to each of the rescuers Friday afternoon at the Bethesda police station.
Robinson, of Woodbridge, estimated that he was in the water, holding the woman’s head up in the waist-deep, flowing creek, for about 25 minutes. He spent much of that time trying to comfort her.
Chindblom called Robinson “my hero,” adding, “It was heartwarming to see someone not wearing a uniform to step up and put himself in harm’s way.”
Today, myself, @2dCommander & @MontCoExec honored Sgt. Hall, Ofc. Chindbloom, Ofc. Chabala, Fire Inspector Cavey & good samaritan, Tyrone Robinson, for risking their lives by jumping into the Cabin John Creek to rescue a woman who jumped into the water on 06/23/2023 -CMJ#MCPD pic.twitter.com/bM51sd1oJP
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) June 30, 2023
