Coast Guard Rescues Driver from Sinking Car

On Saturday, crewmembers of the Coast Guard patrol boat Marlin carried out an unusual rescue: they saved an 89-year-old man from a vehicle that fell into the St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida.

The coastguardsmen saw a car go into the water at about 1245 hours and launched a boat crew from the Marlin to assist the man.

The boat crew arrived on scene about two minutes later, and they broke the car’s window and pulled the man from the vehicle.

The crew transferred him to emergency medical services on shore in stable condition.

Panama City's Emergency Medical Services, police department and fire department assisted with the rescue. 

“I am very pleased with the quick reaction of the crew,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Glenn Bucklin, the officer in charge of Coast Guard Cutter Marlin. “This is a perfect example of the training we put into our job. As soon as one of our crewmen witnessed the car enter the water, the entire crew fluidly reacted. We are extremely grateful that we happened to be at the marina at the right time."