Three rescuers fought against time to rescue an elderly woman trapped in a car that was sinking in a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida, during an operation that was captured on video and published last Thursday by the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
The incident occurred on May 1 at around 10:30 am at the intersection of South Palm Aire Drive and South Powerline Road, when the woman's vehicle fell into one of the channels that run through the residential and commercial area of that city in Broward County.
Upon receiving the report, Detective Robert Rutkowski and Agent Zachary Kerin from the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) arrived at the scene along with Captain Keith Costa from the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department, who was off duty.
What they found upon arrival left no room for doubt: the car was filling with water at a rapid pace, and the driver was trapped inside.
Rutkowski grabbed a red flotation device that another agent had already prepared, to which he attached a yellow rope, and jumped into the canal.
"I arrived at the location, took off my vest and belt, grabbed the flotation device from Agent Charles, who already had it ready, and jumped into the water," the detective recounted in the video posted on Facebook by the BSO.
While the agents on the shore held the rope to help pull the rescuers and the victim, Kerin broke the passenger window of the car to get the woman out. The agent sustained minor injuries to his hand during that maneuver.
According to Rutkowski, the time margin was minimal: "He probably had about a minute before the vehicle was submerged," he emphasized.
Moments after the elderly woman was brought to safety on the shore, the car completely vanished beneath the surface of the canal.
The woman received medical attention and was in good condition. Authorities confirmed that the incident was an accident. Her identity was not disclosed.
Personnel from Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and other BSO agents also responded to the call.
The Broward County sheriff, Gregory Tony, praised the actions of the three rescuers in an official statement titled "Seconds to Spare".
"The body camera shows an incredible rescue. It highlights the difference between tragedy and survival measured in mere seconds. The driver is alive today thanks to her quick actions," said Tony.
Detective Rutkowski summed up the operation succinctly: "Our job was to save a life; that's what we did. We succeeded."
The body camera footage, released more than a month after the incident following an internal review, was widely shared on social media.
The BSO emphasized in its publication that the rescue "is a powerful reminder that training, teamwork, and the willingness to act without hesitation can save lives when every second counts."
Filed under: