Chief Deputy Fielder honored for finding freezing woman

Sept. 22– Mike Fielder, chief deputy for the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, was recognized at a recent ceremony in Nashville honoring 28 law enforcement officers and first responders.

If not for Fielder, Janet Long of Iuka, Miss., would likely have lost her life in the frigid water of the Tennessee River on Jan. 27.

"I’m going to drown," said Long, recollecting her near death experience for The Courier, which first reported the incident. "That’s the way I’m going to leave this world."

According to the honorary citation, Long was collecting artifacts and fossils along the river bank about one mile below Bellis Botel near Pickwick Dam.

Her husband reported her missing around 8:20 p.m. and believed she was in the Pickwick area.

Fielder found her car near the river and immediately heard a woman yelling for help.

Standing in the river chest-deep, she had accidentally fallen about 20 feet from a steep bank.

The river was high and the strong current carried her downstream a short distance, where she managed to gain footing, but was unable to climb up the embankment.

Fielder radioed for assistance and within two minutes volunteers from the Hardin County Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene.

By 9 p.m. rescuers tossed a rope down the bank to the woman and despite standing in 40 degree water for quite some time, she was able to tie the rope around herself so they could pull her out.

"You can’t imagine the relief," Long said. "My strength just went down–I guess all the adrenaline went out of me."

The citation states, "Thanks to Chief Fielder’s rapid response and quick thinking, the woman survived what could have been a deadly experience."

Fielder and the other honorees at the First Responder Award ceremony on Sept. 10 were selected by officials in the state’s Homeland Security districts and the leadership of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

"These individuals address the most immediate needs of citizens in times of crisis but are often the unsung heroes," said Gov. Phil Bredesen.