Florida Man Saves Mom and 3 Kids from Submerged Car

When Casey Curtis noticed a car suddenly accelerate and veer off the road in Indiantown, Florida, he made a split-second choice that saved four lives.

The vehicle had flipped into a canal Sunday afternoon, hidden behind thick brush off Southwest Allapattah Road. Inside were three terrified children and their mother, who had suffered a seizure while driving.

Curtis pulled over, called 911, and followed tire tracks to the water. Through the brush, he heard children screaming and banging on windows.

The 911 operator told him to wait for first responders. He didn't listen.

"I was like, no, there are kids. I'm going to help," Curtis told WPBF 25 News. He found three children staring at him helplessly through the window.

Their mother was still buckled in her seat with her head underwater. Curtis got the children to safety first, then climbed into the sinking vehicle.

"She wasn't breathing," he said. "I gave her a breath, and as soon as I gave her a breath, she started breathing again."

Water was pouring into the car as he held her head above the surface, reassuring the crying children on the bank that their mom would be okay. A Martin County Sheriff's deputy arrived and helped pull the mother out before they rushed the family to Lawnwood Medical Center.

As of Tuesday, the three children were doing well. The mother remains hospitalized, with the family asking for prayers.

Sunny's Take

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said if Curtis hadn't checked his rearview mirror, they might never have found the family. The canal area was so overgrown that the car was completely invisible from the road.

"There's no way of them surviving," Curtis said, noting how isolated the crash site was. He's now pushing for the area to be cleared and protected with guardrails.

Curtis doesn't consider himself a hero. He simply believes in checking whether you're capable of helping, and if you are, you should.

His message to the community is clear: keep the mother in your thoughts and prayers as she continues her recovery.