STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Officer Nikolas Bruno from Sterling Heights Police found himself unexpectedly utilizing his lifeguard training during his patrol last Saturday. At 2:30 p.m., he responded to an emergency at Riverland Park concerning a woman kayaker in trouble. Without delay, Bruno dove into the Clinton River to rescue the woman who was without a life jacket and holding onto a log for safety.
“As soon as I exited the patrol vehicle, I heard the commotion and saw she was in grave danger,” Bruno recounted. “She wasn’t wearing a life jacket and wasn’t a strong swimmer, so I removed my gun belt and jumped in.”
The incident occurred when the woman, part of a kayaking group, collided with a submerged tree, causing her kayak to capsize and strike her head. She managed to cling to a log, while her daughter, who was kayaking alongside her, reached a more secure log dam.
The woman, along with her daughter and niece, was kayaking for the first time when her kayak snagged on the submerged tree, causing the accident. She later told Officer Bruno she was “barely holding on” when he arrived to save her.
“This serves as an important reminder to always wear a life jacket,” advised Bruno. “You never know when you might need it, and it’s always better to have it on just in case.”