Navy Rescue Swimmer Saves Woman Seconds Before SUV Sinks

January 20, 2026

A simple lunch outing turned into a life-saving moment in Virginia Beach, thanks to quick-thinking Good Samaritans and a Navy rescue swimmer who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Jeremy Way was dining at Bubba’s on Shore Drive on Friday afternoon when he heard a loud crash.

“Sitting here having lunch, and there’s a large splash against the windows, that was way higher than it should’ve been,” Way recalled.

A car had driven off the boat ramp and into the water. After confirming there was someone inside the sinking vehicle, Way sprang into action.

“I knew it was going to be cold, I think the air temperature was 29 degrees at the time,” he said.

“I just dove right in.”

When Way reached the driver, he realized the situation was even more dire. Trapped inside the vehicle, the woman was visibly distressed and initially refused to unlock the doors.

As water poured into the SUV and time ran out, Way continued encouraging her while others fought to break the glass. Eventually, as the vehicle slipped completely underwater, the group managed to free her just in time.

“The car was completely underwater,” Way said. “She finally came out, and I did what I’ve always been taught — rescue swimmer techniques — and swam her toward safety.”

Dan Baker, a manager at Bubba’s, described the scene as surreal.

“The car started to sink, and then two of these guys, these citizens, heroines, just lifted this person out of the water as the car was gone. I mean, they just lifted this person out of the water. It was crazy. It was surreal.”

Everyone involved in the rescue made it out of the water safely. The driver and two Good Samaritans were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered serious, according to police.

Way believes there was a deeper reason he happened to be there that day.

“I came out to get some lunch,” he said. “I’m an aviation rescue swimmer. I was here for a reason. ‘So others may live’ — it’s our motto.”

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