A tourist couple accidentally drove their vehicle into the water at a marina in southern South Carolina due to confusion over GPS directions, police reported.
The incident occurred Saturday night at the Isle of Palms Marina, where restaurant employees quickly jumped into action to rescue the couple, according to a Facebook post by the city’s police department.
The vehicle was later retrieved on Sunday by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, and no injuries or environmental damage were reported.
The couple, a 70-year-old man and a woman in her 60s, mistakenly drove onto the boat ramp while following their GPS, Sgt. Matthew Storen told USA TODAY.
Employees from the Islander 71 Seafood restaurant, where the couple had just dined, worked together to save them. Bartender Johnny Himmelsbach, a former lifeguard, was praised for his quick response.
“He didn’t hesitate and managed to pull both people out of the car before it was fully submerged,” Islander 71 General Manager Christopher Sollom told local station WCIV-TV.
Another employee also assisted in the rescue, while other staff members called first responders. Himmelsbach’s actions were hailed as heroic by his coworkers, with bartender Shannon Standhardt expressing gratitude that the incident did not end in tragedy.