A member of the United States Coast Guard from Currituck County is being praised for his heroic act Wednesday, saving a woman after her car ran off a two-lane road and into a canal.
According to Currituck Fire and EMS Chief Ralph Melton, the 29-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle and it became submerged in the five-foot deep canal in the 400 block of Poyners Road near Sligo.
“The vehicle briefly floated 15-feet across the canal and started to fill with water,” Melton said. “The occupant, who couldn’t swim, exited the vehicle through the sun roof.”
USCG Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Brundage of Currituck was driving home when he spotted the woman on the roof of the vehicle in a panic.
“Brundage entered the 50 degree water without hesitation and swam to the vehicle and safely brought the woman to shore as first responders were arriving on scene,” Melton said.
The driver was not injured, was assessed by Currituck EMS and refused treatment.
“Currituck County is extremely fortunate to have citizens as brave as CWO Brundage living in our community,” Melton said.
