Watch: Good Samaritans Dive into Water To Save Mom, Son & Dog Pinned in Sinking Car
It was Aug. 18 when Mary Watkins, her son, Larry, and her chihuahua Cantinflas headed out to Alamitos Bay Marina in Long Beach, California, to look into the possibility of renting a boat.
The errand took a frightening turn for the worse when Larry accidentally drove their pickup truck over a guardrail and into the water.
Larry had recently had foot surgery, Mary told the Long Beach Post, and his medical boot got caught in the vehicle’s accelerator.
As the red pickup truck sank into the water, a team of good Samaritans and lifeguard personnel rushed to the Watkins’ aid.
LBFD Lifeguard units responded to reports of a submerged vehicle just after 1pm today. LIfeguard and vessel assist personnel arrived and made water entry and extricated an elderly couple from the vehicle. Couple was treated on scene and released. Accident under investigation. pic.twitter.com/OaSU2kZ1mV
— Long Beach Fire (CA) (@lbfd) August 19, 2018
Jeff Perez was one of the bystanders who didn’t hesitate to jump into the water to help.
“And no sooner did I hop in the water, the lifeguard captain was handing over the older lady to me,” Perez told CBS Los Angeles.
Thanks to everyone’s quick rescue efforts, both Mary, Larry, and the chihuahua made it out safely.
Perez said that stopping to help was simply the right thing to do.
“I would just hope people would do the right thing,” he said. “And that’s what we’re all here for, to be here for one another and for support.”
Dramatic rescue footage was captured by Jeff Jones, a captain with a local boat-towing service.
“I heard a noise and turned around, and I saw a car drive right past me through a guardrail and into the water,” Jones told ABC News.
“I’m usually the person who would jump in to help but I had major surgery 10 days ago,” Jones explained, who found a different way to assist. “So I ran to the Long Beach fire and lifeguard station, which was literally right there.”
Mary Watkins, 87, was impressed with her lifeguard rescue team.
“I said, ‘Boys I’m 87-years-old, be very careful,’” Watkins said.
“And they were, my hair’s still dry and they didn’t even mess up my lipstick.”
According to the Long Beach Post, the vehicle still has to be fished out of the marina, but everyone involved in the rescue, including the dog, is safe and sound.
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