POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida mother spoke to Local 10 News about her son after he raced to the rescue when a car went into a canal earlier this week.
It happened Wednesday night off Andrews Avenue and McNab Road in Pompano Beach.
A driver lost control of his white SUV, which went into the water and was sinking with a man and small child inside.
“We saw a white truck go over the median and then ended up in the water,” said Casie Alvarez. “I was in shock…and then my son said, ‘Mom, I have to get off and see if they’re ok.’ I said go ahead I’m going to call 911.”
Alvarez said she and her son, Ramiro Gonzalez, immediately pulled over after they saw the vehicle take a plunge into the canal.
“We saw the guy get out of the car in the water and my son is asking him is somebody else in the car,” said Alvarez. “The guy is like my son, my son, my son, and that’s when we heard the little boy, help, help help me, and that’s when my son took off his clothes and jumped in the water.”
By the time fire rescue and police responded to the scene, the child had been rescued.
The boy and his father were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Alvarez said she is thankful for the boy’s life.
“I have a grandson and I would want someone to do it for him,” she said, adding that she is proud of her son, who did not want to speak on camera. “He’s not an attention seeker, so I know he won’t speak on camera. He just said, ‘Mom, I’m not a hero. I was just there at the right time where I needed to be.’
“I couldn’t ask for a better son in my life.”