Good Samaritan joins dramatic lake rescue effort in Florida
A frantic 911 call from Lake Woodruff in Florida early Sunday set off a coordinated rescue effort involving dispatchers, various first responders —and a Good Samaritan who didn’t hesitate to help with his own boat.
Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputies say they received a call around 6:45 a.m. regarding a boater who had suffered a medical emergency on Lake Woodruff, which is around 46 miles from Orlando and is in a national wildlife refuge.
After Air One, which is the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit, located the pontoon boat, Flight Paramedic Matthew Brunelle jumped from the helicopter into the deep blue lake water below him and began to swim to the boat to assist the 56-year-old victim.
“In the moment, you’re not really thinking emotion; you’re just thinking about getting to them and helping them,” Brunelle said. “I didn’t have any equipment with me. It was just me. I didn’t have a cardiac monitor or any kind of medical supplies to render aid to him, so CPR was the only thing we could do out there in that environment.”
Meanwhile, deputies on shore encountered a man with a boat who immediately agreed to take them onto the lake.
“As a deputy, you really try not to be hopeless in any situation, but we understand what it feels or means to be hopeless, so when you have the Good Samaritans that are willing to help out, it’s probably the best thing in the world,” Volusia County Sheriff Deputy Jevon Gardner said.
Under the guidance of Air One, they reached the pontoon, climbed aboard, and continued CPR while Brunelle took control of the boat and steered toward shore.
EMS personnel soon joined them on the water and continued lifesaving measures through the trip back to an awaiting ambulance.
Despite the efforts of everyone involved, the fisherman did not recover.
“Our hearts break for the wife who was put through that traumatic event,” Brunelle said.
Video below: See Video — Good Samaritan Joins Dramatic Lake Woodruff
