This bodycam footage depicts officers of the Orlando Police Department rescuing a driver from his vehicle, which is submerged in a retention pond.

Footage begins at approximately 0:18, with a responding Orlando officer running lights and sirens as he responds to the scene. He confirms seeing a vehicle in the water (referring to the retention pond) at 0:26. The driver apparently failed to negotiate the on-ramp. At 01:08, we see the driver of the vehicle attempt to break his window. The officers notice that the vehicle is continuing to sink, at which point several remove their armor and enter the water to rescue the driver. At 01:38, we can see the partially submerged vehicle begin to shift more rapidly as they approach.

At 01:40, there has been a cut in the bodycam footage. In the interim, the window has been broken and a line has been fed out to the officers in the water and held by one officer ashore, to the right of frame. At 01:45, they begin using the line to haul the driver in, with the camera officer assisting at 01:48. The driver (face ocbscured) is helped ashore at 02:16. The officers who swam out to him and helped haul him in are visibly exhausted. Other officers begin rendering aid to the driver at 02:38, rolling him into a recovery position as he begins to cough up water. The driver confirms at 02:47 that he was the only one in the car.

This isn't the sort of call you start your shift expecting to go to, but these officers did a fine job saving a life in an increasingly dangerous situation. It also bears mentioning that the flora and fauna in the greater Orlando area being what it is, there's a non-zero chance there was at least one alligator in that pond. Just food for thought.

About the Author

Cole Simms

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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