WPB Firefighter & Rescue Diver Rescue Elderly Man
Published on October 08, 2024
October 8, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Diane G. Papadakos, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
dpapadakos@wpb.org
(561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)
West Palm Beach Fire Fighter & Rescue Diver Rescue Elderly Man After Driving into Canal
West Palm Beach, FL – Yesterday, West Palm Beach Firefighters responded quickly to an emergency call of an elderly man who had accidently drove his car into a canal in the Green Pine neighborhood off Military Trail.
Upon arriving to the scene, the car had drifted 40+ feet offshore and a bystander was in the water trying to assist. West Palm Beach Firefighter Mauricio Campos immediately jumped into the water to secure the car and make contact with the elderly man.
Firefighter Campos provided a life vest to the elderly man, who could not swim. Fire Fighter Campos was able to remove the man’s seatbelt and place a life vest on him. West Palm Beach Rescue Diver Austin Solek arrived and entered the water to assist.
As conditions rapidly deteriorated and the car began to take on water, West Palm Beach Captain Adam Sinatra ordered them to immediately remove the man from the car. Firefighter Campos tried to pull the man out of the car, but he was stuck. With the assistance of the rescue diver, they were able to rotate the man and pull him out face down. They swam him over to medics waiting on the shore. Within seconds of the man being pulled from the window, the car completely submerged into the water. The patient was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
“We are so very proud of the swift actions of the West Palm Beach Firefighter and Rescue Diver. Were it not for these heroic and immediate actions, there would have been a very tragic outcome,” stated Mayor Keith A. James.
Please contact the Mayor’s Office of Communications should you have questions.
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The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic City located on the Atlantic coast of Florida. With a rich history, a thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region, and the central City of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing, waterfront City that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the region with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit us on our official website, or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and/or LinkedIn.