AUGUSTA, Ga. () – An afternoon on the water for an Augusta father and son turned into a rescue mission over the weekend. 

Now, a Richmond County deputy is being called a hero after the brave rescue on Father’s Day.

Glenn Wright Sr. and his son, Glenn Wright Jr., decided to visit the Lock and Dam on Father’s Day for some bonding time but it quickly turned into one of the most frightening experiences they’ve ever faced.

It all started after they were trying to catch fish.

“We caught a fish. I started to walk toward my son—then I looked back, and my fishing pole began to lean towards the water. As I moved to grab it, the next thing I knew, I was in the water,” shared Wright Sr.

The current was too strong for him to handle—his son jumped in to help, but he too found himself in trouble.

“I just tried to save my dad. That’s all I remember, I was just trying to save him,” Wright Jr. said.

His father recalls the frightening moment.

“That’s when I went underwater. He grabbed me by my shoulder—I went down and took my first gulp. When I surfaced, I saw Officer Grooms’ car,” recalled Wright Sr.

Sergeant Darrell Grooms was doing a routine patrol of the area when he noticed Wright and his son in the water—that’s when he took action. 

“I took my uniform off, I called the fire department and the ambulance because that was my first instinct to call them,” said Grooms.

Grooms told Wright Sr. to grab onto a nearby tree to buy time—-meanwhile, a good Samaritan passing by, Anthony Caruso, got a rope to pull the father and son to safety.

“After doing this for so long, you just learn that it comes with instinct,” said Grooms. “That’s what we get paid to do, is to help the public, serve and protect. When someone is in a stressful situation, you don’t think about yourself at the time. I got a son, and I just had a grandson 4 months ago. But, you don’t think about that until it’s over with.”

“I felt God at that time,” said Wright Sr.

Caruso and Grooms were awarded for their efforts Tuesday, sharing hugs and tears with the Wrights. 

“I think it’s special—especially that it was Father’s Day to help assist a father and son,” said Sheriff Eugene Brantley. “It could have ended tragically, but it was some great work and great response on behalf of Sergeant Grooms.”

For Wright, he says Grooms’ heroic actions have also completely changed his perspective of law enforcement.

“As you see on TV today, we have so many incidents that involve the police—and they do get a bad name. There’s bad people all over the world. But that day, that became my brother over there,” said Wright Sr. “Best Father’s Day gift, ever.”

“It goes to show that relationships really do matter. Building that trust with the public, and getting the public behind the Sheriff’s Office is what we’re striving to do to build trust in our community,” said Brantley.

Sheriff Brantley praised Sergeant Grooms for his efforts—-calling him a steady pillar for the agency, after serving with the Sheriff’s Office for 35 years.

“In the 24+ years I’ve known him, he’s always been the same. He just continues to show up, and helps get the job done.”

For Wright, this longtime officer has become a new friend.