Sometimes people make really big mistakes that can’t be fixed with a simple “Oops, guess I won’t do that again!”
For teenager Mia Samolinski, that “senior moment” (and not the high-school kind) happened when she accidentally hit the gas pedal on her Subaru Outback, plunging it into the murky depths of Long Island’s Patchogue Bay.
Unfortunately, Mia was still stuck inside of her car when all of this happened, her life likely flashing right before her eyes.
Thankfully, one of her classmates was there to help save the day – and Mia’s life!
18-year-old senior high school student Anthony Zhongor jumped into action the moment he witnessed the car zoom out of the parking lot and into the deep end.
Although teenagers aren’t always known for their ability to make good life decisions, Anthony, who had just enlisted with the Marines, had a good head on his shoulders.
While many onlookers rushed to the edge of the dock, unsure of what to do next, Anthony’s quick thinking made this bad situation turn into something with a much happier ending.
It was an ending that didn’t involve him filming the entire thing with his smartphone while a young lady flailed and drowned.
It did, however, have him diving into the cold water, which he did with the ease and grace of a Good Samaritan who didn’t mind getting a bit nippy for a good cause.
In an interview that Anthony gave to ABC-7 after the two were safe and sound, he said:
“She was banging on the door, banging on the window, trying to break the window of course. And then that kind of got me nervous, scared for her. I took my clothes off and went into the water. The dive was pretty, pretty far, so it was just right there as soon as I looked up, grab the door handle.”
Cameras on the dock captured the moment Anthony’s dive made a big splash in the water.
If he didn’t do something, and fast, this situation would quickly turn deadly, perhaps for the both of them.
Anthony then remembered a little bit about physics, and how he could use his own weight to lift up the back end of the car.
“Weight made the nose of the car go deeper into the water, which helped the back get free,” he said. “Open the back up, and she was able to escape from the back.”
Even though holding your breath underwater while trying to open car doors isn’t an activity most people train for, Anthony was a natural at it.
After the two teenagers swam back to the shore, Mia showed lots of gratitude to Anthony for risking his own life to save hers.
“She just came up and said, ‘Oh, my God, thank you’ and was crying, that’s all.”
Charles Samolinski, Mia’s dad, was also super grateful that she was rescued so quickly.
“He jumped out of his car and jumped in and because of that, my daughter is alive and not really harmed, you know?” he said. “I mean, it’s a miracle.”
Anthony doesn’t think his actions were that big of a deal, but we do!
Watch the video below to see exactly why this Marine-to-be is good people.
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