Fishermen rush to aid of crash victim in burning car

SPRING HILL (FOX 13) - Surveillance cameras outside the Nature Coast Marina in Spring Hill captured video of a horrific single-car accident Friday.  

The driver of a Ford SUV leaves the road, slamming head-on into some trees.

“As soon as the vehicle came to a rest there [were] flames,” said Marina owner Kathryn Birren.

The video also shows the heroism of a group of local commercial fishermen. They all came running within seconds of the crash. 

Among them was Allen Sherrod, who put his own safety aside for a stranger.

“They're hard-working fisherman. They work offshore. They face danger every day. They're 36 inches from death all night long and so I jumped in with them. We did everything we could,” Sherrod said.

The good Samaritans used crowbars and fire extinguishers to help free the driver.

FHP says 42-year-old Andrew Biggart, of Spring Hill, was taken to Tampa General and listed in critical condition.

“I looked him in the eye a couple times, grabbed his hand, said 'Hang in there. We'll get you out,'” said Sherrod.

Despite flames and danger all around, giving up was never an option.

“I hope the family gets comfort knowing they did what they could,” said Birren.