The 81-year-old driver, not identified, accidentally drove off the Higel Marina Park boat ramp in Venice, Florida, at around 9:30pm (1:30am BST) last Wednesday, according to police. Surveillance footage revealed the woman slowly approaching the water. The pensioners car doesn’t stop and continues to drive into the water until the vehicle is almost entirely underwater.
Only the roof of the car remained visible.
Rob Goodman was putting his kayak in the water the next morning at around 7am (11am BST) when he noticed just a few inches of the cars roof sticking out the water.
He told WFTS how he flagged down a paddle boarder and they both made their way to the car.
Mr Goodman described how upon approaching the vehicle “her hand came out of the window.”
He added: “At that point we had to change the rules a little bit and the next thought was ‘get her out.’
“We got her out probably about a couple of minutes before rescue got here.
“And she was cold so I just held onto her until she was able to be taken over by rescue crews.”
Venice Police Department shared images of the incident on their Facebook page.
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“According to the driver she’d been trapped in the partially submerged car since approximately 10pm last night.
“We are pleased to see a happy ending to such a potentially tragic situation.”
It was not immediately clear what led to the woman driving in the water.
Police claim she is in a stable condition.
Many replied to the post with well wishes to the woman,
Misty Hosier said: “Aww bless, I’m so glad she’s okay.”
Lynn Cheyenne commented: “Poor thing.”
Jill Groulx commented “what a hero” the man was.
Another Facebook user, Tammy Jarvis, said: “Thank goodness these kayakers were there at the right time! So happy to hear a good outcome!”