A Florida sheriff’s deputy risked his life to rescue a man who was trapped in floodwaters, with both men sucked underwater into a drainage pipe, gripping video shows.
Escambia County Deputy William Hollingsworth and the citizen in distress were carried nearly 100 feet underwater beneath a four-lane highway before resurfacing on the other side, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
For several days now, Escambia County has been hit with severe weather and torrential downpours, which peaked early Friday morning.
Hollingsworth was on patrol to assist stranded motorists who were caught in rapidly rising waters, the sheriff’s office said. During his patrol, the deputy came across a man with a disabled vehicle.
…Video shows Hollingsworth immediately rushed to the other man’s aid once he was able.
“You okay, buddy? Can you believe what just happened to us?” the amazed and terrified deputy exclaims.
[If you have a few minutes to spare, watch the bodycam video at the link – it is AMAZING and horrifying. That occurred at 0140 Friday morning. We’d gotten almost 19″ of rain overnight, with tornadoes as well. I drove by at 0600 videotaping that very spot (below), having never seen it flooded so badly. Nor did I have any idea of the life or death situation and the subsequent miracle just a few short hours before. God bless them both, and all our phenomenal first responders. ~ Beege]
Hwy 98 east bound lane from Blue Angel to Navy Federal building is a complete washout.@NWSMobile@spann #WestPensacola pic.twitter.com/MsXfxfEw8m
— tree hugging s*ster 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) June 16, 2023
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