Former Trine University cross country and track athlete, Miranda Coombs, now a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at the university's College of Health Professions, saved a woman from a freezing river last month.

On Jan. 25, the 2020 exercise science graduate was about a mile and a half into her route on a bike path running next to the St. Joseph River. The temperature was in the 20s and the river was partially covered in ice.

As she crossed under a bridge, she saw a young woman about chest-deep in the water out of the corner of her eye. After getting past the initial shock, Coombs called to the woman to see if she was alright. The woman stared back but did not respond. Still frightened, called 911. As she finished the 911 call, a biker passed on the path and could see something was wrong.

Coombs and the biker helped flag down emergency personnel after the woman yelled 'I don't want to die,' and, 'I can't swim,' " Coombs said. "I went up to the road, flagged down the fire truck and a man with a wet suit came out," she said. "I walked him down to the river and he walked in and was able to pull the girl out."

The rescue took about three minutes, and the woman was unharmed. According to reports the woman had entered the water voluntarily.