Man, 2 Dogs Rescued From SUV After Driving Into FL Pond

LONGWOOD, FL — An older man and his two dogs were rescued by Orlando-area first responders Tuesday when the SUV the man was driving went into a retention pond, according to authorities.

Police in Longwood were called to an area near State Road 434 and Rangeline Road shortly before 10:30 a.m. after a person reported seeing an SUV leave the road and drive into a pond. The person told authorities the SUV was partially submerged in water and at least one person was inside, police said.

Police responded to the area and immediately entered the water to help the person, authorities said. When they reached the SUV, authorities said the man was "conscious but unresponsive." Using a tool to smash the SUV's window and cut the man's seatbelt, police were able to remove the man and take him to shore.

Authorities said police also rescued two dogs from the car.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to recover fully, police said.

Watch video of the rescue shared by the city of Longwood.

Longwood Mayor Matt Morgan was stuck in nearby traffic and witnessed the rescue, he told Fox 35 Orlando.

"This is right now number one with a silver bullet for me as far as one of the most amazing things, if not the most amazing thing, I've ever seen in my life," he told FOX 35.

Morgan shared his account of the rescue in a Facebook post, where he also thanked first responders.

"Thank you to all our heroes that stepped up immensely today!" Morgan wrote. "The fact that our police department was there 30 seconds after that SUV hit the water, is still astounding to me!"