Tennessee

Officer Dies Trying to Save Woman in Nashville River Rescue

Officer Eric Mumaw fell into the river while trying to rescue a woman contemplating suicide, who was later found alive, police said

Search crews found the body of a Metro Nashville police officer who slipped into a bitterly cold Cumberland River while trying to rescue a woman, Tennessee officials said Thursday morning.

The Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed "with heavy hearts" in a tweet around 8 a.m. Thursday that a fire department diver found the body of 44-year-old Eric Mumaw. Police said Mumaw was an 18-year veteran of the department, "who gave his life this morning in service to Nashville."

Metro Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said during a news conference earlier Thursday that the officer was last seen alive in the river about 50 to 60 yards from a boat ramp shortly after he slipped in.

Aaron says two officers were responding about 4:30 a.m. Thursday to a call about a 40-year-old woman who relatives said was contemplating suicide. He said they found the woman in a car on the boat ramp near the water's edge. Aaron said it appeared that she was about to get out of the car to go with officers when the vehicle went into gear and rolled down the ramp, which ended abruptly under the water.

"The two officers as the car was rolling tried to make heroic efforts to save the woman who was in the vehicle," Aaron said, but both officers slipped into the river. One was able to get back to the bank. Aaron said that officer tried to grab the other officer but was unsuccessful.

"We need the thoughts and prayers of the city for this police officer," Aaron said.

He said crews found the woman from the car about an hour later on the riverbank and she was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Metro Nashville Fire Department spokesman Brian Haas said river conditions were brutal, with a fast current on top of cold temperatures.

"It's extremely dangerous for anybody to be in that kind of a situation," he said.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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