Coast Guard breaks window to rescue 89-year-old from sinking car

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Dramatic video shows a Coast Guard crew rescuing an 89-year-old man from a vehicle that went into the St. Andrews Marina in Panama City over the weekend.

Coast Guard members aboard the cutter Marlin saw the car go into the water at around 12:45 p.m. Saturday and launched a boat crew to help the occupant.

The crew broke the car’s window and rescued the man from the vehicle.

Panama City Police said the man suffered a medical issue that caused him to drive off the side of the marina, according WKRG-TV. The man was hospitalized.

“I am very pleased with the quick reaction of the crew,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Glenn Bucklin, the officer in charge of the Marlin. “This is a perfect example of the training we put into our job. As soon as one of our crewmen witnessed the car enter the water, the entire crew fluidly reacted. We are extremely grateful that we happened to be at the marina at the right time to put our boat crew in position to save the life of the driver trapped inside.”