Rindge Police Chief Rachel Malynowski honored Detective Chris Martin for saving a man’s life by jumping into a frozen lake to pull him out of the water.

She gave him a representation of a medal that will be hung on Martin’s dress uniform, with the actual medal to be presented in a few weeks after ordering.

“Where failure to act or delay of action would have likely resulted in a tragic outcome, Detective Martin’s quick response, recognition of the severity of the situation and immediate and selfless actions, resulted in saving a life,” Malynowski said during a recent Board of Selectmen meeting. “Detective Martin has displayed an extreme professionalism and an innate value for human life. He is hereby commended for his actions and awarded the Rindge Police Department lifesaving medal.”

Malynowski said this is the first lifesaving award she has seen given out in her 20 years on the Rindge force.

The award was in recognition of actions that Martin took on Dec. 21, when he and officer Tessa Yoder responded to a single-vehicle crash on Route 119. While they were en route to respond, dispatch informed them that the crash may have been the result of an impaired driver, who had since fled the car and jumped into a nearby body of water.

“Upon their arrival, they determined that a Jeep Compass had traveled off the roadway and crashed into a tree, resulting in significant damage. They confirmed the driver was in the water, and was struggling to stay afloat,” Malynowski said.

Before police arrived, a group of civilians had stopped and were attempting to help the man from the shore, but their efforts were being ignored.

“By this time, the driver had been treading water for nearly 10 minutes. The temperature was 15 degrees; with windchill the real air temperature was 5 degrees,” Malynowski said. “Detective Martin recognized that the man was becoming increasingly distressed and likely hypothermic. As the man’s efforts to stay afloat were deteriorating, Detective Martin quickly shed his gear and jumped, fully clothed, into the water, quickly realizing the depth was over his own head.”

Malynowski said the man continued to attempt to resist assistance, but Martin was still able to bring him to shore. He and Yoder rendered aid until the arrival of emergency medical services. The man was transported by medical helicopter to a trauma center for treatment of injuries from the crash and severe hypothermia. He survived and is expected to make a full recovery.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.