Legion Members Pull Naked Man from Detroit River

Two American Legion members responded quickly Wednesday night after a concert in Bishop Park and rescued a naked man from the Detroit River.

The two Legion members from Wyandotte Post 217, executive board member Doug Williams and Cari Salaman, wife of post commander Bob Salaman, were leaving the park about 11 p.m. when they heard screaming that someone should call 9-1-1, The Press and Guide reports.

Near the end of the concert, a man had reportedly jumped a fence and rushed to the stage to say that someone was in the water.

When Williams and Salaman reached the river bank, they found the man’s clothing about 25 feet from where he was in the river.

Williams said he and Cari Salaman squeeezd through the boards of the pier wall and grabbed the man’s arms and pulled him to shore.

The 37-year-old Belleville man, who wasn’t identified, was taken to Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital for evaluation and treatment. Wayndotte police officers said he was visibly intoxicated.

His girlfirend, who was by his side when police arrived, said she didn’t know why he shed his clothes and jumped in the water. He had left the concert to go have a cigarette by the river, she said.