A Florida deputy is “fortunate to be alive” after being sucked right into a drainage pipe and swept underwater for about 30 seconds after attempting to assist a stranded driver who was caught within the flood, authorities mentioned.
Escambia County has skilled extreme climate and heavy rain over the previous few days, and people climate situations have been at a peak Friday morning when deputy William Hollingsworth was on patrol, Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons mentioned in an announcement on Fb.
At round 1:39 a.m. native time in Pensacola, Florida, Hollingsworth exited his patrol automotive and approached a person who was trapped in rising waters, Simmons mentioned.
When Hollingsworth obtained nearer, he noticed the person get swept underwater and shortly “rushed to his help with out regard for his personal security,” Simmons mentioned within the assertion.
As Hollingsworth tried to rescue the person, each have been sucked right into a drainage pipe and swept beneath a roadway on Hwy 98.
‘Are you able to consider what simply occurred to us?’
The 2 have been swept underwater and “traveled practically 100 toes,” Simmons mentioned. “They finally resurfaced on the opposite finish of the roadway − fortunate to be alive.”
Physique digital camera video captured the second Hollingsworth went underwater and resurfaced 30 seconds later. When Hollingsworth noticed the person he tried to save lots of, the 2 shared a second.
“David, are you able to consider what simply occurred to us?” Hollingsworth mentioned. “Simply breathe.”
“I nearly died,” the person mentioned.
“I nearly died, too,” Hollingsworth mentioned.
Simmons mentioned the incident is an instance of the “distinctive braveness displayed by the women and men of regulation enforcement day-after-day.”
