LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. (WFLA) — A heroic off-duty deputy was reunited with a grandmother and her two-year-old granddaughter weeks after rescuing them when their automotive plunged right into a canal.
On March 20, Audrey Villieres and her granddaughter, Ameika, have been leaving the car parking zone of a Walmart at 3001 North State Street 7 in Lauderdale Lakes when their automotive went right into a canal and commenced to sink.
A Broward County Sheriff’s deputy, Andrew Alencar, who had simply completed work for the day, was alerted of the emergency and instantly responded.
On the scene, Alencar shortly jumped into the canal and used a plunger to interrupt the window to rescue the kid.
“I rushed over there and noticed the automobile and upon approaching the automobile, I noticed a woman and a child on the again seat of the automobile, and the automobile was sinking. I knew I didn’t have a lot time, so I wanted to behave,” Deputy Alencar mentioned.
In keeping with Alencar, he swam the kid again to the shore after which returned to avoid wasting Audrey by prying open the automotive door.
“I keep in mind after I bought out of the water and was strolling to my automotive. I keep in mind asking for the child. ‘How’s the child? How’s the child?’ I used to be involved,” Deputy Alencar mentioned.
BCSO investigators decided the reason for the accident was as a consequence of a attainable automobile malfunction.
Each the grandmother and granddaughter have been unhurt within the ordeal. The deputy was taken to a neighborhood hospital to be handled for minor cuts and ingesting water.
Two weeks after the accident, the household of Audrey and Ameika have been in a position to thank Alencar in individual for his selfless actions on that day.
BCSO spoke to the daughter of Audrey, Ameika’s mom, who mentioned that the household now shares a ‘particular bond’ of gratitude with Deputy Alencar.
“I thank God for him. He was in the best place on the proper time.”
