Clearwater Firefighters Lauded After Rescuing Woman From Submerged Car

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department personnel are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a woman who had driven her car into a pond.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, at 10:20 a.m. Nov. 12, calls came in about a car fully submerged in a pond at the On Top of the World retirement community in the 2200 block of Camelot Drive.

Troopers said the 69-year-old Clearwater woman suffered a medical episode and lost control of the car.

Personnel from several stations responded and spotted the car more than 25 feet from shore, about 90 percent submerged, with just the rear hatch window showing.

Engine 48 and Rescue 48 personnel dashed into the water, dived down and immediately broke the rear window to try to get her out, but she was stuck inside, holding on to one crew member’s arm.

Personnel were then able to break another window — the rear passenger door one. At that point, the car was submerged in 8 to 10 feet of water and crew members made multiple dives, holding their breath in an attempt to free her.

She finally was freed from the car through the rear passenger window and was brought to shore in full cardiac arrest. She was transported to Mease Countryside Hospital, where she was last listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

The time from when personnel arrived on the scene to when the woman was transported to the hospital was 12 minutes.

Five of the crew members were treated after the incident, including four who were cut by glass.

Among those credited with saving the woman's life are Lt. Ben McBride, Fire Medic Mason Marty, Fire Medic Stephanie Nuszkowski, Driver-Operator Adam Mittler, Fire Medic Logan Campbell, Lt. Wade Bishop, Fire Medic Logan Cruz and others.