Tampa Bay Bucs QB Helps Save Helicopter Crash Victims

2 年前

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Blaine Gabbert was among several Good Samaritans who helped rescue four people after a helicopter made an emergency landing in waters near Davis Islands on Thursday, December 29, the Tampa Police Department said.

Police said a tour helicopter carrying a pilot and three passengers made an emergency landing in the water after the occupants heard a loud bang and the helicopter lost power.

The Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded and said all four victims were rescued from the water. This footage first shows the view from the police boat as officials arrived at the scene, and then shows them transporting victims to shore at Davis Islands Yacht Club.

“We’ve got a passenger coming on board … the other three are on the Jet Skis, and the helicopter is submerged right behind us,” a police officer is heard saying in the video.

On Friday, Gabbert told a press conference that he and his brothers were riding Jet Skis when they heard a “faint noise,” spotted people in the water and “raced over” to help them.

Gabbert said he took two victims onto his Jet Ski and his brothers took a third. The fourth victim, the helicopter pilot, was taken aboard a police boat, he said.

Gabbert said he and his brothers were in the “right place at the right time,” and directed praise toward local police and fire services. “The credit really goes out to Tampa PD,” Gabbert said, turning toward Tampa’s Interim Chief of Police Lee Bercaw, who joined him at the press conference. “You guys, the fire department, the sheriff’s department – because they were there in five seconds. It was pretty remarkable.” Credit: Tampa Police via Storyful