| Name: | Timothy Sanders |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Chicago Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Water rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2003 |
| Incident City: | Chicago |
| Year of Incident: | 2002 |
| Incident Location Type: | Water/Waterfront |
| Incident Attribute: |
Firefighter Timothy Sanders of Engine 71 of the Chicago Fire Department was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions to rescue a drowning woman from the North Branch of the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois on June 2, 2002.
Engine 71 was dispatched to 6340 N. Kedzie because there was an unconscious woman in the Chicago River. Firefighter Sanders entered the cold water and swam towards the victim, whose body had now sunk beneath the surface of the water. The victim was now well-past the buoy ring, which was extended to the full length of its rope, so, disregarding his own safety, he swam to her and carried her seemingly lifeless body upstream until he was able to return to the buoy ring. With the help of personnel from Engine 71, Engine 89, and Truck 56, the exhausted firefighter and the victim made it back to safety.
Citation:
”Illinois Honors Her Bravest.” The Gong, July-September, 2003.