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Officers who saved pregnant woman from flipped, submerged SUV recount rescue

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Published  January 14, 2025 11:34pm EST
Brevard County
FOX 35 Orlando

Officers save pregnant woman from flipped SUV

For two Palm Bay police officers, quick thinking turned into life-saving action. The woman, who was 40 weeks pregnant at the time, was trapped inside her vehicle, upside down and underwater. FOX 35's Kelsie Cairns spoke exclusively with Officers Brian Press and Cameron Mitchell, who jumped into the canal to save her.

The Brief

    • Two Palm Bay police officers rescued a pregnant woman trapped in an overturned SUV submerged in water.
    • Officers Brian Press and Cameron Mitchell used a window punch and baseball bat to break the vehicle’s glass and free the woman.
    • Officer Press urges drivers to stay focused, drive defensively, and be prepared with an escape plan.

PALM BAY, Fla. - For two Palm Bay police officers, quick thinking turned into life-saving action.

The woman, who was 40 weeks pregnant at the time, was trapped inside her vehicle, upside down and underwater.

FOX 35's Kelsie Cairns spoke exclusively with Officers Brian Press and Cameron Mitchell, who jumped into the canal to save her.

Quick actions save pregnant woman's life

What they're saying:

"As I walked toward that canal, I started to hear a banging sound," said Officer Press. He added, "At that point my mind just went into life-saving mode."

Officers initially responded to the area off Bayside Lakes Boulevard on Dec. 26 to a call about a downed power line.

"When I arrived on scene, that was the only information that we had. There was a downed power line that was live. There were no reports of any accidents or anything like that," said Press.

The situation escalated when they discovered the woman was trapped.

To get her out, Press used his window punch. He gave FOX 35 a demonstration of how it works.

"You push it up against the corner of your window and press in. It has a built-in spring and a metal tip inside, and it will shatter that window," he explained.

Officer Mitchell said he grabbed a baseball bat from his partner's car and ran straight for the water.

"I went ahead and got inside, carried the baseball bat over there, and handed it off to Corporal Press," he said.

Acting as a team, with Press's punch and Mitchell's slugger, the officers smashed the back windshield, cleared away sharp edges of the glass, and helped the pregnant woman out of the car.

'You have one job to do'

Why you should care:

Officer Press encourages everyone to drive defensively and have an escape plan.

"Slow it down. Drive safely; keep all the distractions put away, and just focus on driving. When you're behind the wheel, you have one job to do," he said.

If you find yourself in such emergencies, emphasizing steps to escape a sinking car: 

  • Unbuckle your seatbelt.
  • Use the buckle or other tools like a headrest, screwdriver, or pocket knife to break a window.
  • Remaining calm and working efficiently can be critical in such life-threatening situations.

Officials urge the public to call 911 immediately if they encounter a sinking car, keep an eye on the vehicle, and assist the occupant only if it is safe to do so.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Palm Bay Police Department, Palm Bay Police Officers Brian Press and Cameron Mitchell.

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