Man Unknowingly Rescues Friend From Drowning

February 22, 2012

An incredible story of survival as a driver saves a young man's life.

"The whole car got sideways and then hit a curb and shot straight to the creek," said Josh Kizer.

When Kizer crashed his car near Northwest 17th Street and North Janeway Avenue he didn't realize how lucky he was.

"The next thing I knew I was in the water upside down," said Kizer.

Kizer said he tried to escape the car, but couldn't."I took three drinks of water and I was out after that," said Kizer.

He said he was helpless and underwater, but Steven Richards saw everything and jumped into the water.

"I didn't think twice about it," said Richards. "I just did it."

Richards and another Good Samaritan worked to get Kizer out of the car."

I went underwater, felt his foot and pulled him out," said Richards.

"All of a sudden I saw a light and somebody pulled my leg out," said Kizer.

Then the men were able to drag Kizer to the bank.

"He was out of the water five or 10 seconds before he took a breath," said Richards.

"His eyes were wide and his lips were purple. I was expecting to pull out a body and we would have to do CPR."

Kizer's dad arrived and saw that Richards was helping his son.

"I said 'Steven, what are you doing here?'" said Jeff Kizer, Josh's father. Kizer's father and Richards' father are friends.

"It really told me that God was in all of this," said Jeff Kizer. Kizer's Bible floated out of the car along with himself.

Kizer and his family credit the help of Good Samaritans and the Lord above.

"God provides everything," said Josh Kizer.

Richards lives about 35 miles away from the scene of the accident. He just happened to be on that street making a delivery.