FITCHBURG, Mass. (WHDH)— A car in Fitchburg was submerged under 3 feet of water with both passengers trapped inside. The Fitchburg couple in their 80's, now fighting for their lives.
“As far as I know he’s in the hospital, he was unconscious when he was pulled,” said family member, Mark Boudreau. “I hope he’s ok, but I’m nervous, it’s a tough thing for them both.
Family members say the two were out on their typical Sunday routine, heading for this nearby restaurant, when something went horribly wrong.
“There's no guard rail, so if they made a mistake of backing out or they didn’t put it in park. There's really nothing for them to stop,” Captain Richard Liberatore, Fitchburg Fire Department.
Rescuers say the car was first knocked on its side. It had fallen almost 20 feet.
“7 of us got on the car, started rocking the car, you could see the people inside. They were submerged underneath the water,” Liberatore said.
Crews managed to turn the car over and worked their way inside.
“She fell into my lap, I grabbed her, checked her vitals, she wasn't breathing, she was very ashen in color,” said Liberatore.
The water, cold, but it may have saved them at the scene.
“When a person is under the water, cold water, their chances of survival are better,” Liberatore said.
Both are in ICU, badly injured, but breathing thanks to life-saving rescuers.
“There's nothing like saving a life,” Liberatore said.
Family members fear just how long the couple had in fact been submerged under the water. The couple drives regularly and are in very good health, both recovering tonight in separate hospitals.