Bill Von Herbulis, a 72-year-old wheelchair user who regularly fishes and checks crab traps near his New Smyrna Beach, Florida, home, fell into a marina shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27, according to an account reported by Fox News and a sheriff’s office incident report cited in that account.
Von Herbulis was heading home when his wagon of fishing gear struck a dock box, causing his wheelchair to tip into the water. His cellphone fell in with him. He was able to grab an electrical pipe and called for help, but the nearby dock gate was locked, according to the report.
An arriving angler heard him and called 911. Volusia County deputies, including Sgt. William Leven and Deputy Boris Rodriguez, reached the private marina at about 9 p.m. They found Von Herbulis in the water, struggling to keep his head above the surface, the incident report said.
Body-camera footage described in the report shows Leven removing his gun belt and entering the water with a flotation buoy. He brought the buoy to Von Herbulis and retrieved a bag of belongings. Deputies and bystanders then helped lift Von Herbulis onto the dock. He declined medical attention and returned home in his wheelchair.
The sheriff’s office said Leven is set to receive a Lifesaving Award. Von Herbulis told Fox News he was back fishing the next day.
The waterway is known to have sharks, and Von Herbulis said he has caught sharks while fishing nearby. The source does not report a shark approaching or interacting with him during the rescue.
