St. Johns woman saved from sinking car, rescuer recount frightening moments

FRUIT COVE, Fla. — Heroic acts by two strangers and an off-duty deputy saved a woman’s life after she drove a car into a St. Johns County retention pond.

Robin Lawson told Action News Jax she hydroplaned during a storm and overcorrected, causing her to fly into the pond Saturday night.

“It was so frightening," said Lawson. "It was so awful. It was a nightmare.”

Lawson spoke exclusively to Action News Jax after she crashed the car into the pond just blocks from her home. Lawson was test driving the car when she drove into the pond.

“I was trying to get the windows up or down, or just do something to help myself. I was in such a desperate state,” said Lawson.

As panic set in and the water rose, a family passed the crash on their way home from church.

The daughter of a man who stopped to help said she heard Lawson scream, “Help, help, help – get me out.”

An off-duty St. Johns County Sheriff's Office deputy had also seen the crash and stopped to help.

"And he (the witness) said, 'I can't open up the door' and that's when my father jumped in," said Lauren Gorski.

John Gorski told Action News Jax he ran through the frigid water and swam to where the car was starting to sink in 10 feet of water.

He'd grabbed a tool known as a 'window punch' from their family car and used it to break the side windows.

John Gorski grabbed Lawson, but she wasn't coming up.

"I was saying, 'God don't let her die in my arms like this,'" John Gorski.

With help from the off-duty deputy and another witness, they got Lawson to shore.

“It was a miracle. It’s so exciting to know somebody cared so much. He is my hero,” said Lawson.

“Having this (tool) made me feel like I had the answer because I knew I could get the windows open,” said John Gorski.

The tool that saved Lawson’s life is sold at some hardware stores and online:

• Amazon
• Sears
• Home Depot

Cox Media Group