TALLAHASSEE – Florida Rep. Sam Garrison wanted to do something special as soon as he read about two Clay County Fire Rescue responders who miraculously rescued an 11-month-old girl from Black Creek …
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TALLAHASSEE – Florida Rep. Sam Garrison wanted to do something special as soon as he read about two Clay County Fire Rescue responders who miraculously rescued an 11-month-old girl from Black Creek last August after she was trapped for nearly 13 minutes under an overturned pontoon boat.
That happened on Thursday, April 24, when Garrison recognized Lts. Thomas Gill and Rob Hutchins from the Well of the Florida House of Representatives during the current legislative session.
Gill retrieved her lifeless body from the brackish water, and Hutchins immediately started CPR. The girl, Vianca, defied all medical odds and survived to turn 2 earlier in April.
Along with other civic, community and governmental leaders, the first responders were in the gallery when Garrison told their story:
“I want to take just a moment to recognize two Florida heroes, Lieutenant Gill and Lieutenant Hutchins. You guys stand up. These two gentlemen are Clay County Fire Rescue personnel. Some months ago, they were responding – one was driving home from church, off duty, and one was driving home, and they went over the Black Creek Bridge, north of Green Cove Springs, just south of Fleming Island.
"They saw an overturned pontoon boat. They responded immediately. Members, there was an infant trapped underneath that boat wearing a life preserver with no means of rescue. These two gentlemen jumped in, fully clothed. There were kids in the car coming back from church, and after a very long time, somehow miraculously, in the very dark waters of Black Creek, they saved that little girl through groping and trying to find something; they found a leg. They pulled that infant out. The infant miraculously survived. Amazing, I mean, we're talking for 10, 15 minutes. I mean, this was — it's a miracle. And these two men here are Florida heroes, an example of our best and brightest.
"Rep. Blanco, I recall you mentioning earlier the work they do. Please join me and all of Clay County in recognizing these two. Thank you for being here. God bless you. Thank you, Madam Speaker, thank you.”
