Watch: Fla. Deputy Saves Man Clinging to Pipe After Falling Out of Wheelchair Into Water

A Volusia County sheriff's sergeant shed his gear and jumped into the water to rescue a 72-year-old man who had fallen from his wheelchair while fishing and was clinging to a pipe at a New Smyrna Beach marina.

Joe Vince

Sept. 30, 2026

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A 72-year-old man fell from his wheelchair into the water at a New Smyrna Beach marina while fishing and was found clinging to a pipe to keep his head above water.
Volusia County deputies responded to reports of splashing and calls for help, despite the marina area being locked.
A sheriff's sergeant jumped into the water with a buoy and helped keep the man afloat until other deputies assisted with the rescue.

Quick-acting Florida deputy saved a 72-year-old man hanging on to a pipe after he fell out of his wheelchair while fishing and into the water at a marina Sunday.

The rescue happened just before 9 p.m. when Volusia County sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a possible drowning at a New Smyrna Beach marina, the sheriff's office stated in a social media post that included body camera footage. A caller told dispatchers that splashing and a man yelling for help could be heard, but the gate to the area was locked.

When a sheriff's office sergeant reached the scene, he found that the man had fallen out of his wheelchair and into the water. The man was clinging to a pipe while trying to keep his head above water.

Immediately, the sergeant ditched his gear, grabbed a buoy and leaped into the water. As other deputies arrived, the sergeant could be seen floating with the man trying to get land.

Once the man was out of the water, he was evaluated by medics but refused further medical attention.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.