Shocking body camera footage shows Florida deputies rushing to rescue a quadriplegic man after he fell into the water while strapped to his wheelchair.
A 30-year-old man was on the ramp connecting his boat to the dock when it collapsed, sending him and his wheelchair plunging into eight to 10 feet of water on Sunday morning.
Terrifying video showed the man, still strapped to his 230 pound wheelchair, dangling as two bystanders rushed to help, holding him above the water.
First responders raced to the scene, where a Sea Tow captain jumped into the water and used a rope to stabilize the wheelchair as the man slowly slipped out of the chair.
As he kept slipping, rescuers removed him from the hefty wheelchair and secured him to a life preserver to keep him afloat as they swam to shore.
Footage showed Martin County officers grabbing the yellow raft the man was strapped to and hoisting him onto land.
After the man was brought to safety, he appeared in good spirits, and his family said they are treating the ordeal as a learning lesson.
Two bystanders rushed to help the quadriplegic man after he fell, holding him and his wheelchair above the water
His electric wheelchair weighed about 230 pounds, and first responders made the decision to remove him from the chair to get him to safety
‘Best advice I can give is just be prepared for everything, you never know when a tragedy is going to strike,’ Deputy Mark Appler told NBC6.
The sheriff’s office praised the officers and bystanders in a Facebook post about the dramatic incident.
‘A frightening situation at Mariner Cay ended safely thanks to the quick actions of MCSO deputies, Martin County Fire Rescue, a Sea Tow captain, and two bystanders who refused to let a man slip beneath the water,’ the post read.
“Thanks to the quick thinking and teamwork of the bystanders, the Sea Tow captain, and responding deputies, the victim was safely rescued and suffered only minor injuries,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post.
Overwhelming support poured in on social media, with users applauding everyone who helped the victim.
The man was strapped to a yellow life preserver, where a responder swam to shore with him
Martin County officers grabbing the yellow raft the man was strapped to and hoisting him onto land
After the man was brought to safety, he appeared in good spirits
‘It’s nice to see that there are still kind people in our world! Thank God the gentleman was ok.,’ One user commented. ‘You all were there at the right time!’
‘Thank you to the bystanders, and all the helpers,’ another said.
‘Great work, heroes!’ Another user gushed.
