Sometimes the difference between a close call and a tragedy is nothing more than a few seconds. That appears to be exactly what happened in Pompano Beach, Florida.
For one older woman, what began as an ordinary day suddenly became a life-or-death situation. According to bodycam footage and a report by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, her car plunged into a canal, and suddenly she was in a fight to get out before the water won. The reports say the vehicle was already taking on water fast by the time help arrived.
The deputies did not wait for the situation to get worse. They quickly sprang into action, entering the canal and swimming toward the car with the clock running down. Thankfully, the rescuers managed to reach the woman and pull her to safety just in time.
The Moment the Car Started Going Under
What made this rescue so remarkable was just how little time everyone had to work with. According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, an older woman became trapped after her vehicle plunged into a canal in Pompano Beach and began rapidly taking on water.
BSO Detective Robert Rutkowski and Deputy Zachary Kerin responded to reports of a submerged vehicle at approximately 10:30 a.m. When they reached the scene, they immediately realized there was no time to wait for specialized equipment or a lengthy rescue plan. The vehicle, a gray SUV, was continuing to sink, the woman was trapped inside, and every passing second made the situation more dangerous.
A Race Against the Water
Deputy Rutkowski later explained that he quickly removed his vest and duty belt before grabbing a flotation device that had already been prepared by another deputy. With the flotation device attached to a rope, the rescuers entered the canal and began making their way toward the vehicle. Off-duty Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Captain Keith Costa also joined the effort.
As they reached the vehicle, the team faced their biggest obstacle: the trapped woman still inside. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Kerin shattered one of the vehicle’s windows, creating an opening that allowed rescuers to pull the woman from the sinking vehicle and bring her back toward shore.
The timing could hardly have been closer. Deputy Rutkowski later estimated that they had roughly a minute remaining before the vehicle would have disappeared beneath the surface completely. In fact, bodycam footage shows that moments after the woman was brought to safety, the vehicle sank beneath the canal and vanished underwater.
Deputy Kerin suffered minor injuries on his hand while breaking the vehicle’s window during the rescue, but the mission had been accomplished. The woman survived, the rescuers made it back safely, and what could have become a tragedy became a powerful example of training, teamwork, and acting decisively when every second counts.
The Teamwork Behind the Rescue Didn’t Go Unnoticed
The rescue may have unfolded in just a matter of minutes, but it relied on multiple people working together under pressure. As Deputy Robert Rutkowski later explained, a flotation device was already prepared when responders arrived, and it was attached to a rope that helped support the operation. While some rescuers entered the canal and swam toward the vehicle, others remained on shore helping guide and pull them back safely once the woman had been reached.
That coordinated effort was not lost on viewers. The Facebook post quickly filled with comments praising not only the rescuers in the water but also the dispatchers, communications staff, and supervisors who helped make the response possible.
Many commenters pointed to the teamwork involved, describing the rescue as an example of what can happen when trained professionals trust one another and act without hesitation. Had any part of that chain broken down, the outcome could have been very different.