Elderly Man Rescued After Making ‘Wrong Turn’ and Driving Off Boat Ramp

Mar. 15, 2025

An elderly man was rescued after he mistakenly drove off a boat ramp in Washington state on Jan. 16, 2025.Photo:Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue

Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue

A Good Samaritan and emergency responders saved the life of an elderly man who mistakenly drove off a boat ramp in Washington state.

The incident occurred in Lake Stevens around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, saidSnohomish Regional Fire & Rescuein a news release. It stated that the driver was navigating the North Cove boat launch in dark and foggy conditions when he “made a wrong turn” and drove down the ramp.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene, including an off-duty firefighter who heard the call at his home and entered the frigid waters after donning his wet suit and snorkel gear, read the news release.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“By the time firefighters arrived, the vehicle had floated approximately 100 feet from the shore and was slowly sinking,” Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue said. “The rescue swimmers and Good Samaritan secured the vehicle and successfully extricated the driver.”

An elderly man was rescued after he mistakenly drove off a boat ramp in Washington state on Jan. 16, 2025.Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue

Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue also stated that dark and foggy conditions can make getting around dangerous.

“Still water, especially in fog, is almost indistinguishable from a solid surface from a driver’s perspective. Once a vehicle enters the water, it can float and drift quickly due to forward momentum,” according to the release.

An elderly man was rescued after he mistakenly drove off a boat ramp in Washington state on Jan. 16, 2024.Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue

“We want to thank the selfless good Samaritan for their swift response and the care for other people over your own! And thank you Lake Stevens Police for your swift response as well,”  Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue concluded its statement.

source: people.com