Police Save 86-Year-Old From Sinking Car, Then Find a Sunfish Inside It

Two police officers in Manchester are being praised after rescuing an 86-year-old man from a car that ended up sinking in a pond. The emergency call came in while they were already handling another incident, and one officer's old lifeguard training helped shape the save.

Dispatch told officers a car had gone into a lake, that one person was still on the driver's side, could not open the door and was slowly going under. Officers Sean Rembach and Don Miller headed to the gated Renaissance community and found the driver on top of the vehicle as it sank.

Rembach said the man was clinging to the front pillar of the car, with only part of it still above the water, and shouting for help. Police said the driver had been attempting a K-Turn when he pressed the gas instead of the brake and sent the vehicle into the pond.

Body camera footage captured Rembach stripping off his vest and gun belt before jumping into the water to reach him. Miller stayed on shore and worked the line, drawing on experience from a decade of lifeguarding at Jenkinson's. He said the kind of pull he used with the throw bag was something he had done before.

A fast rescue, and a strangely memorable aftermath

Rembach later said Miller's throw landed perfectly in his hand, and he joked it was good enough to earn an Eagles draft call. Once the line was set, Miller pulled both men back to shore. Rembach said the movement through the water happened so quickly that he could hardly believe how fast they were coming in.

The driver was not hurt. Rembach also said the man was fortunate that neighbors woke up and called 911 so quickly.

The car itself did not fare as well. It was totaled after going under, and police said a sunfish somehow ended up inside the submerged vehicle.

Even after the scare, the 86-year-old was able to joke while drying off. According to police, he said he needed a new coffee because his was sitting at the bottom of the pond, and that it might also be time for a new car.

How to get out of a sinking car

A vehicle can sink faster than many people expect, so the key is to act immediately. The usual advice is simple: unbuckle, open a side window, and get out through that opening. Doors can be very hard to push open once water is pressing against them.

If the electric windows still work, use them straight away. If they do not, a small window breaking tool kept within reach can help, but aim for a side window rather than the windscreen, which is usually much harder to break. Help children and anyone who needs assistance as soon as there is an exit, then move away from the vehicle once outside. Keeping your phone and escape tool where you can reach them from the driver's seat is a practical habit.

What people mean by a sunfish

The word sunfish usually refers to a group of small freshwater fish commonly found in ponds, lakes, and slow moving rivers. They are known for their round, flattened shape and spiny fin rays, and many people catch them while fishing for recreation or food. In some places, the same word can also mean a very different ocean fish, so common names can be confusing.

If you ever transport fish, keep them cool, shaded, and in clean water suitable for the species. Avoid moving live fish between different bodies of water unless local rules clearly allow it, because that can spread disease or unwanted species. If a fish is meant for eating, store it on ice as soon as possible. If it is meant to stay alive, it needs water, oxygen, and gentle handling.