Chelmsford Police Officer Helps Rescue Swimmers At Freeman Lake

CHELMSFORD, MA — Two young swimmers are alive today, thanks to the quick thinking Chelmsford police officer and bystanders at Freeman Lake Sunday.

“Officer Hill showed quick thinking and decisive action during this rescue, and he should be commended for immediately taking control of the situation in the way he did,” Chief James Spinney said. “Every second counts in a drowning scenario, and this type of reaction illustrates the training our officers undergo. We are so fortunate that Officer Hill was in the right place at the right time, and that tragedy was avoided. We also would like to thank the bystanders who took action as well and assisted in the rescue.”

Officer Derek Hill was standing at the top of the stairs that lead down to the beach and Freeman Lake on Adams Street around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, when he heard yelling and some sort of disturbance coming from the shore, according to police.

Hill saw a woman waving and pointing to the water and heard her yelling that someone was drowning. He ran down to the shore and saw two people flailing in the water about 30 to 35 feet from the shore.

As Hill radioed dispatch for back up and a medical response he took off his police gear and shoes. As nearby swimmers helped bring one of the swimmers to the shore, he saw the second swimmer bobbing up and down in the water, flailing his arms and calling for help.

Hill raced into the water and swam approximately 40-feet offshore, grabbing a plastic float along the way and bringing it to the swimmer in distress.

With the assistance of a bystander, Hill was able to lift the distressed swimmer onto the float. The swimmer indicated he was feeling dizzy and had swallowed a lot of water. Hill and the bystander then pulled the swimmer to shore and laid him on the beach.

Officer Keith Leczynski arrived and helped keep both rescued swimmers alert and upright. Trinity EMS then took over providing aid.

The swimmers, who were 16 and 24, and their mother told police that their plastic float had blown away in the wind, so one of them tried to swim after it, and when he could no longer touch the bottom he began to panic. His brother went to help and swam out to him, but wasn't a strong enough swimmer, police said.

Both swimmers were taken to Lowell General Hospital for further evaluation. Both are expected to fully recover, police said.