Family of 4 rescued after car flipped into pond in Orlando

Police, fire department crews, and a motorist worked together to rescue a family after their car flipped over into a retention pond in Orlando, Florida.

When officers attended the scene around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night, they discovered the car overturned and partially submerged in water near the intersection of Lee Vista Blvd. and Vista East Pkwy.

The witness informed Orlando police the car drove off the road and over an embankment.

That individual helped police officers rescue the mother and oldest child from the vehicle. The boy was about 10 years old, rescuers said.

“He was apparently upset and shaking,” said Lt. Rob Henzmann of the Orlando Fire Department.

He said he ran into the chilly water and found someone else already in rescue mode.

“He was actually a bystander who jumped in the water to help. Amazing job on his part!  He was holding the head of the child out of the water. The child was still in his car seat and restrained. Had he not done this, that child probably would not have survived. “

Rescuers then took over the situation and got the toddler out of the car.

“We were able to go in, cut the seat belt, and able to remove the child and the car seat,” Henzmann said.

As for the father, he was stuck in the driver’s seat.

“We started communication with him; he was able to talk to us.” 

But getting him out was difficult, and thus they had to call in more divers.

“Using hydraulics, tools to remove the rear door and to open the front passenger door, at which point we were able to pull the driver out.”

Rescuers said they were in the chilly water for about 35 to 40 minutes.

“At the rear of the vehicle, it was waste deep, and as you move forward to the middle of the vehicle it was about to the middle of my chest,” added Lt. Henzmann.

The family was admitted to the hospital for treatment of injuries that were not serious.

Firefighters say, if your car is submerged, you should try rolling down the window, or use a window punch, so you can escape from the open door.