On a hot Thursday afternoon, Ryan Lauber’s quick thinking and bravery saved the life of a 19-year-old co-worker trapped in a sinking pickup truck behind a Publix grocery store on Dunn Avenue.
Lauber heard a call for help coming from the pond behind the store’s loading dock. Spotting the truck partially submerged, he jumped a 6-foot chain-link fence and dove into the water to rescue the young man, who had lost control of the vehicle, crashed through bushes and a fence, and ended up in the retention pond.
The trapped driver told rescuers he had been underwater for about 10 minutes, swallowing water as he struggled to escape. Lauber found him exhausted and floating near the truck and pulled him to safety.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers, including one who was off-duty nearby, arrived as the truck sank completely. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue checked the teenager and transported him to a local hospital. He was awake, alert, and expected to make a full recovery.
JSO District 6 Patrol Officers later presented Lauber with a challenge coin in recognition of his heroic actions.
“Jacksonville, we work around the clock to protect and serve, but we can’t do it alone,” said JSO. “We thank citizens like Ryan Lauber for jumping in and potentially saving a life.”
Officials also urged drivers to stay calm and act quickly if their vehicle becomes submerged, advising them to unbuckle seatbelts and try to open or break a window immediately.
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