Overview
- The rescue took place on May 1 after a car drove through a fence into a canal near the 2600 block of South Palm Aire Drive and began taking on water.
- BSO Detective Robert Rutkowski, Deputy Zachary Kerin and Fort Lauderdale Fire Captain Keith Costa were first on scene and entered the canal to reach the trapped driver.
- Responders broke a passenger-side window, used a flotation device and tied the woman to a rope to pull her to shore as the vehicle sank moments later.
- The woman survived and her identity and detailed medical condition have not been released; Deputy Kerin suffered a minor hand injury that was treated on scene and crews have repaired the damaged fence.
- Broward Sheriff’s Office posted the bodycam video to show the rapid, coordinated rescue and officials say the exact cause of the car entering the canal remains unconfirmed despite initial reports about a possible pedal error.