Woman reunites with stranger who helped rescue her, 3 kids from submerged vehicle
A Florida woman was recently able to meet and thank the good Samaritan who helped rescue her and her three children earlier this month, after their vehicle crashed into a canal.
One week after the Feb. 8 incident, which was captured in body-camera footage released by the Martin County Sheriff's Office, rescuer Casey Curtis reunited with Shyeniqua Wilkins, who authorities said experienced a seizure and was rendered unconscious, which caused her vehicle to veer into the canal.
Video of the initial incident shows the chaos in the moments immediately following the crash, as first responders and Curtis scramble to reach the family.
Wilkins was later taken to the hospital following the dramatic rescue, authorities said.
Wilkins' three young children were not injured in the crash, but Wilkins spent several days in the intensive care unit at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, according to ABC News West Palm Beach station WPBF.
Wilkins recounted her memories of the incident while speaking with WBPF.
"I remember driving from Indiantown," she recalled. "I don't remember when the seizure started or any of that, because I've had a couple, but I never know when it's going to start or something like that."
When Wilkins woke up at the hospital, she said she was told what happened and was eventually able to see her children.
"It was emotional. Every day it was emotional, because I talked to them, and they were like, 'Mommy, I want to see you.' And I wanted to see them too, but I couldn't. I wasn't well enough for them to see and stuff like that," she said, according to WBPF. "So, when we finally did see each other, they were kind of like, 'I don't want to go away.'"
Eventually, Wilkins and Curtis were able to meet over a Zoom call, according to WBPF, with Wilkins repeatedly expressing a desire to thank Curtis in person.
"I'm so thankful and grateful for you," Wilkins told Curtis over the video call. "I know it's because of you and God. You don't want to be a hero, but hey, I'm sorry -- you're the hero of my life. I just thank God for you now."
Curtis later surprised Wilkins at the hospital in an emotional meeting.
A video of the meeting shows the two embracing, with Wilkins sitting in her hospital bed.
"It's a great feeling to see her alive and breathing and doing so well. I really, I was not expecting that. So it's just, it's fantastic. I wasn't expecting it," Curtis told WBPF.
