Man on work break makes heroic rescue in pond behind Publix store, FL cops say
A worker on break behind a Publix supermarket ended up saving someone’s life when he followed cries for help to a pickup truck sinking in a retention pond, according to investigators in Florida.
The act of “selfless heroism” happened Thursday, July 3, at the store on Dunn Avenue in Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a July 8 news release.
“Ryan Lauber was taking a quick break ... when he heard what sounded like a call for help coming from the pond behind the loading dock,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Lauber, who has family members in law enforcement, went to investigate. He saw what appeared to be a pickup truck sinking into the dark water. Without hesitation, he jumped a 6-foot chain-link fence and dove in.”
The pickup belonged to a 19-year-old co-worker, who was leaving for the day when he lost control, crashed through a fence and landed in the water, officials said.
“The man said he had been trapped for about 10 minutes and swallowed water as he got out of his submerged truck, narrowly escaping death,” the sheriff’s office said.
“Lauber found him floating, exhausted, near the truck. As Lauber pulled him to safety, JSO officers, including one who was off-duty and nearby, arrived on scene, prepared to dive in. By that time, the truck was fully submerged, with only bubbles marking its location.”
The driver was alert when taken to a hospital and he “is expected to make a full recovery,” officials said. His identity was not released.
Lauber is being lauded on social media for not hesitating to jump into the water. Florida’s retention ponds are known to host alligators and snakes.
“Thankfully he didn’t experience bystander effect and took action,” one commenter wrote on the sheriff’s office Facebook page. “It really is heroic and that man will forever be grateful.”
It’s unclear if the two men work at the adjacent Publix or a nearby store. McClatchy News reached out to Publix officials for comment on July 9 and has not heard back.