Longwood police officers were able to save an elderly man and his two dogs after he was found unresponsive in an SUV that was submerged in a local retention pond.
Longwood Police Department officers responded to the area of State Road 434 at Rangeline Road on Tuesday, March 28, at around 10:27 a.m. after receiving a call advising that a vehicle had left the roadway and drove into a retention pond. The caller advised that the vehicle was partially submerged and appeared to have at least one occupant.
Officers arrived on the scene a short time thereafter and immediately entered the water to perform a rescue.
Upon reaching the driver’s door, an elderly man was found conscious, but unresponsive. An officer broke out the window using a glass-breaking tool before cutting the seatbelt to remove the driver from the vehicle.
The man and his two dogs were taken to the shore by officers and given medical attention by Longwood Fire Department personnel. The elderly man was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries and is expected to have a full recovery.