Courtesy of Shedly Appolon and the Martin County Fire Rescue
A woman some 8-months pregnant has a total stranger to thank for her life, and that of her baby.
When she was driving down I-95 in Martin County, Shedly Appolon remembered feeling dizzy. It was her 29th birthday; she was probably in a good mood, but biology and fate had a wicked gift in store for her.
The dizziness grew until she lost control of her car, which trundled off the highway and into a pond. Confused, she called her fiancé, and told her she was “in the water” confusing him in turn.
WPBF reports that the phone went dead at that moment, just when water began seeping in through the holes under the pedals, and the car began to tilt forward into the brown water.
“I tried to open my driver’s side door and my passenger door, but they were both submerged in water, so I couldn’t get out,” she said. “I started feeling water on my feet. So, I started to panic a little.”
That’s when Good Samaritan on-scene Logan Hayes stripped off his excess layers, took a running jump, and swam to the car to open the back door before it too became submerged.
“When he swung that door open, I was like you are an angel,” Appolon said told WPBF.
It’s almost impossible to open a car door whilst the car is sinking; the force needed to disperse the water is beyond what most humans can create with their arms or even their legs. The best chance to save your life if you know for certain your car is going into the water is open the door on the way in or roll down all the windows, which like the door, can’t be opened once they’re taking on water.
If not, the only other chance is to smash the windows, or hold your breath until the pressure in the cabin equalizes with that of the water; at which point the door will open easily. That was proven on Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters to be beyond the limit of most people’s lung capacity.
SINKING CAR RESCUES: Missing Texan Trapped for 3 Hours in Her Submerged Car Saved by Passing Fisherman–Learn How to Save Yourself Too
Fortunately for Appolon, Hayes reached the doors before the water did, and helped her to safety.
Paramedics arrived and rushed her to the hospital, where it was determined the stress of the near-death experience called for an emergency C-section.
MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Parasail Operator Turns Into Rescuer After Storm Hits the Jersey Shore
Appolon’s fiancé arrived at the hospital after the birth of their daughter, Ivory, at 7 weeks early, weighing 3 pounds 14 ounces. She described Ivory as her “miracle baby,” and it’s easy to see why.
Hayes said he was just happy to be at the right place at the right time.
WATCH the story below from CBS Chicago…
SHARE This Good Samaritan’s Two-For-One Rescue…
