[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5180]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING CARNEGIE MEDAL RECIPIENT, DEREK CREEL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 2010

  Mr. BACHUS. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to bring to the attention 
of my colleagues the heroism of a constituent, Derek J. Creel of 
Warrior, Alabama. Guided by his faith, Derek put his own life at risk 
to save the life of a young child during a tragic outing on raging 
waters.
  In recognition of his courageous and selfless action, Derek has been 
awarded the Carnegie Medal by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
  The criteria for this prestigious award was established by the 
philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1904, when he wrote on the 
Commission's founding Deed of Trust that, ``We live in a heroic age. 
Not seldom are we thrilled by deeds of heroism where men or women are 
injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their 
fellows.''
  Derek Creel displayed extraordinary heroism in swimming to a father 
and son who had been overtaken by a strong current in the Black Warrior 
River on March 27, 2009. Excruciatingly, he could not save the father 
from the cold and swift waters. But he both saved and comforted the 
frightened young boy while rescue help arrived. Derek's spiritual 
strength was every bit as important to their survival during that 
challenging time as his physical strength.
  Warrior Police Chief Raymond Horn, who was at the scene, wrote a 
gripping account of Derek's heroism in nominating him for the Carnegie 
Medal. It is a description of an exceptional action by a prayerful man 
that I commend to your reading.
  On 03/27/09 the Warrior River, Locust Branch, was well above normal 
depth from recent rain storms. The currents were very strong and swift 
with a lot of debris, i.e.; stumps, trees and rocks in this river. 
There were more storms moving into the area later that night with flash 
flood warnings being posted.
  The rescuer, Derek Creel, was at the river fishing. He witnessed a 
canoe, with an adult male and a male child, capsized. The two victims 
were caught in the swift currents and very rapidly being pulled down 
stream while holding onto the canoe. At this point Derek Creel with 
total disregard for his own life or safety jumped into the cold water 
and swam towards the victims. After reaching the victims and the canoe 
he attempted to get them to the shore, but the currents were too strong 
and they were washed down river about half a mile from the boat launch.
  At this point Derek was able to steer the canoe into a downed tree in 
the river. He then had to physically hold onto both victims. He soon 
became exhausted and had to make a very difficult decision. Let one 
victim go and save the child and himself. The father, Tim Sagafoose was 
injured and was unable to help or respond. Derek was unable to hold 
onto the father any longer and turned him loose into the current. Derek 
then had to calm the young boy and explain what he had to just do. He 
had the presence of mind to witness to the young boy about God and 
salvation, all while holding onto him in the cold swift water for over 
for over thirty minutes before they were rescued by Warrior 
Firefighters Lee Kilgore and Luke Ahl.
  I personally spoke with Derek at the scene and he was visibly shaken, 
and extremely apologetic about not being able to save the father. And 
he was very humble about his rescue efforts on this night.
  After days of refusing media interviews, he finally did an interview 
on the day Tim Sagafoose's body was recovered. During this interview, 
Derek credited his actions to God and his Savior Jesus Christ for 
putting him there that day and giving him the strength to hold on.
  After 34 years of Law Enforcement experience I walked away from this 
incident with not only amazement at the actions of Derek Creel, but 
true respect for him. He is a remarkable young man with strength and 
conviction and truly humble demeanor. I am very proud of Derek for not 
only his heroism, but his witness of the Lord in this difficult moment. 
He is truly a hero in my opinion in more ways than one.
  In closing, I congratulate Derek and the entire Creel family.

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