An off-duty New York City firefighter is being recognized for rescuing a woman trapped inside her submerged car during flash flooding in Queens last Wednesday night. Travis Langan, an FDNY firefighter and former U.S. Marine, was driving home when he stopped to help stranded motorists after heavy rain caused rising floodwaters to overtake the roadway. Among the stranded drivers was elementary school principal Carmen Pinto, whose Tesla stopped working as water quickly filled the vehicle.
Pinto says she tried to open the doors, lower the windows, and call 911, but the water continued rising until she was pressed near the sunroof trying to breathe. After a bystander pointed out the car, Langan climbed onto the vehicle and punched through the sunroof with his bare hands before using a Yeti cup handed to him by Pinto to break through more of the glass. He then pulled her out through the opening and carried her to safety.
The two reunited Friday at FDNY headquarters, where New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore honored Langan for his heroic actions. Pinto thanked Langan during the event and said she felt “blessed” that he stopped to help instead of continuing home to his family. Mamdani said Langan’s quick decision during the flooding saved Pinto’s life.
Source: SUNNY SKYZ
photo: GETTY