White River rescuer: I'd do it again

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Homecroft resident Keith Smedema decided in an instant to jump off a White River bridge in order to save a woman already in the water.

Smedema was riding his bike in the White River State Park Thursday afternoon when he saw something out of the corner of his eye and then he heard a flash. He rode over to the area and saw a woman struggling in the cold river.

Smedema said once the woman cried out for help he jumped off the bridge and into the river. 

“I knew it would be cold.  I was not in any way prepared for the shock of the cold water when I went under.  It just ripped the breath right out of me,” said Semdema.

After reaching the woman he was able to get to an area where the water was 4 feet deep.  He held onto the woman for 30 minutes until a river rescue team came to their aid.

The woman told him she fell off the bridge while looking at some ducks in the water, Smedema said.

Smedema describes himself as a good swimmer. He says he felt like he could help the woman and didn't hesitate to jump into the river.

“I felt euphoric at the time. We had to go up the bank to get to the ambulances. They asked me if I could walk. I felt light. I felt like I was on air. Then when I got in the ambulance, I started shaking uncontrollably,” said Smedema.

Smedema says the woman thanked him for his help. The two were taken to separate hospitals and he has not heard from her since.