'No Hesitation': Off-Duty Firefighter Jumps Into N.C. River to Save Drowning Man

An off-duty firefighter didn't hesitate when he came across a man drowning in a North Carolina river.

Steve Hunt, a captain with the New Hanover County Fire Department, was walking along Cape Fear River to "catch the end of the sunset" with his girlfriend when they noticed that a man who had been walking along the river's edge got swept away by the currents.

In a social media post, his girlfriend said they both spotted the man "going under and not resurfacing," which is when Hunt jumped into the river to save him.

“There was no hesitation. It was an instinct,” Hunt told local NBC affiliate WECT.

The fire captain noted that the rescue was a bit more difficult than others due to the fact that the man initially struggled to accept help.

“He starts just pulling for the river, and saying, 'Let me go just let me go. I can’t go. Just let me go,' ” Hunt recalled.

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However, Hunt told the outlet that he just tried to keep the man focused as he fought to get them back to shore.

“I was like, ‘Hey, man, I know it’s kind of a weird time. But look at the battleship, how cool it looks, we got a view here that most people don’t get to have.’ It was kind of a peaceful moment in this weird chaos," Hunt added.

The New Hanover County Fire Rescue praised Hunt’s efforts on social media, writing that his “courage and selflessness” that he showed during the rescue “epitomize our community's spirit and our firefighters' dedication.”

“When faced with a life-threatening situation off-duty, he did not hesitate,” officials added. “He acted with the same bravery and commitment that he demonstrates every day on the job. His quick thinking and heroic efforts saved a life, and we are profoundly grateful and proud to have him as a member of New Hanover County Fire Rescue."

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