A driver whose vehicle ended up submerged in a Virginia creek had already made it roughly 80 yards from the end of a dock by the time rescuers arrived Friday night.
He wasn’t alone out there.
A bystander had taken a kayak into Chesconessex Creek and was helping keep the driver afloat as fire crews reached the scene near Onancock, according to Onancock Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Rydberg.
What followed required another trip across the water, this time by a rescue swimmer.
Out In The Creek
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The call came in at about 10:20 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, for a vehicle submerged in Chesconessex Creek off Northside Road, according to Chief Mike Rydberg of the Onancock Volunteer Fire Department.
Onancock and Tasley volunteer firefighters were dispatched, with personnel from the Accomack County Department of Public Safety also responding.
By the time they arrived, the driver was in the water about 80 yards from the end of the dock.
A person in a kayak had reached him first and was helping him stay afloat.
Firefighters deployed a rescue swimmer, who crossed the remaining distance to the pair and brought the driver back to the dock.
The driver suffered injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.
Still Down There
The rescue got the driver back to shore. His vehicle presented a separate problem.
Rydberg said Saturday that it remained submerged in Chesconessex Creek.
Boaters were being asked to stay away from the area until the vehicle could be recovered so they would not strike it and damage their own vessels.
Onancock VFD leadership also thanked the Good Samaritans who helped the driver before emergency crews arrived, including the person who paddled out and kept him afloat.