A woman who didn't know how to swim was drowning. This Clermont County sheriff's deputy jumped in to save her.

WASHINGTON — A Clermont County Sheriff's deputy was awarded a Medal of Valor by President Biden on Wednesday.

Deputy Bobby Hau Pham was awarded the medal for saving a drowning woman who drove her car into East Fork Lake in November 2021. Pham jumped in the frigid winter water and saved the woman who did not know how to swim. Pham spoke with WCPO about the night of the rescue.

"I was just pleading with her to please stop," he said. "And I just remember right when she drove into the lake, that's when I started thinking, what am I going to do to help her?"

Pham jumped into the water. Captain Chris Allen said the Clermont County Sheriff's Office couldn't be more proud of Pham and his actions.

"I think this speaks volumes of Deputy Pham and his character, what he's willing to do," Allen said.

"We all like to think and say that we would put our life on the line, but until we're actually put into that position, you don't know what you're going to do."

Allen said it's even more impressive, considering the conditions that November night.

"So if you take everything into consideration... The air temperature was 28 degrees, the water temperature was 49 degrees, it's nighttime, he's alone," Allen said.

After Pham made it to the woman's car, he determined he needed additional resources, so he got back out of the water.

"He leaves the water, gets back into the water and is actually physically able to pull her from the vehicle is inhuman," Allen said.
"There's no other way to describe it. It's a superhuman feat."

The woman is alive today, because of Pham's actions in a situation where seconds count.

“By the time he was able to get her to the rope and look back, the car was gone and had been submerged,” Allen said. “So when you say seconds, we're talking seconds. A razor's edge of life and death here"

Deputy Pham's actions are being recognized through the Medal of Valor, the nation's highest honor for bravery.

Pham said his trip to the White House has been a surreal experience, and getting this award was something he never expected.

"Never thought that in a million years," Pham said. "I'm definitely going to remember it for a long time. And it's something I'll be able to tell my kids and my grandkids in the future."

Pham was among nine total recipients of the award and was honored during a ceremony at the White House ahead of Biden's trip to Japan for the Group of Seven summit.

The president told those at the ceremony that the Medal of Valor is given for "actions above and beyond the call of duty." The medal is the nation's highest honor for bravery by a public safety officer.

"I don't know all of you, but I do know you," Biden said. "From small towns to big cities, you're cut from the same cloth. You run into danger when everyone else runs away from danger."

The president also awarded two New York Police Department officers that were killed when responding to a 911 call, the other NYD officer that killed the gunman from that call, three New York City firefighters, a corporal from Colorado and a sergeant from Houston.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said those honored showed "extraordinary valor." Garland also showed his respect for the families of those awarded.

"At the end of every shift, you are there," Garland said to the families. "It is your care and encouragement that makes it possible for our public safety officers to do their jobs. We are so grateful to you."

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article erroneously said the sheriff's deputy did not know how to swim. It has been updated for accuracy.

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