Video: Ind. FFs Pull Woman From Submerged Vehicle

Sept. 27, 2010
The woman was cut free from her seat belt and was pulled ashore by responders.

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UPDATE: The woman who was rescued from the river -- 46-year-old Cynthia J. Ray -- was pronounced dead at 10:22 p.m. Monday at the St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.

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A woman is fighting for her life today after veering off a road in Hobart, Ind. and into a river before being rescued by firefighters and police officers.

The dramatic rescue was captured by videographer Edward Malik.

The incident occurred shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday when the woman's Buick LaSabre left East 37th Avenue, jumped a curb and went in between a light pole and a guardrail down a hill and into the Deep River, according to The Post-Tribune.

The vehicle began to sink and a witness called 9-1-1. Within three minutes, police officers were on the scene and were soon joined by Hobart firefighters.

A tow truck was called for and when it arrived they used a cable with a hook and attached it to the car's headlight to flip it over to gain access to the door.

The woman was cut free from her seat belt and was pulled ashore by responders tethered by a rope.

The woman was unresponsive and Hobart Police Cpl. Michael Teer told the newspaper she may have been fully submerged for up to three minutes.

"There were still air bubbles coming out of the water. It was all the way under," he said. "It was up to my neck."

He estimated the river is about 12 feet deep.

The responders began CPR on the woman but were not successful. She was then transported the woman to St. Mary Medical Center.

They soon received word from the hospital that the woman had a pulse and is currently listed in critical condition.

Her rescuers told the newspaper that they are keeping their fingers crossed that the she would survive.

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