Every now and then, a story of a rescue mission comes along that proves that humanity has so much kindness.
In 2018, an incident in 200 block of Marina Drive in Long Beach, California, had everyone worrying when a red pickup truck crashed into the water.
According to CBS News Los Angeles, the people inside the vehicle were composed of a woman, a man, and their pet Chihuahua. The incident was captured by a surveillance camera when the truck accidentally lunged forward – crashing into the railing of the nearby marina and plunging into the water.
The female passenger, Mary Watkins, who was 87 years old at the time, was the first one to be rescued from the sinking vehicle.
Witnesses of the incident began helping immediately, seeing that the vehicle was sinking rapidly. The nearby lifeguard captain wasted no time in rescuing the family. But what struck people more was how eager the other people in the area were to help. Good samaritans came forward right after seeing the unfortunate accident.
One samaritan named Jeff Perez jumped to help the family of three.
“And no sooner did I hop in the water,” he shared with the news outlet. “The lifeguard captain was handing over the older lady to me.”
Adding more to what happened during the rescue, Perez told Insider Edition that the woman was “surprisingly calm” during the incident.
He even revealed that Watkins, despite all the craziness, was even more concerned about her hair and lipstick getting wet. “Thankfully, we were able to keep that dry for her,” the good samaritan cheekily joked.
Be sure to reach the end of this article to see the full video 
Witnesses also say that the chaotic incident happened very fast, with other members of the local rescue units rushing to the scene. Jeff Jones, the person who had recorded the now-viral video, recalled what he felt when the commotion unfolded.
“They just came barreling right through, I turned around, and you know, it was just one of those things,” he told CBS News Los Angeles. “It was very hectic. The fire trucks came, the local Marine patrol came. It just got pretty chaotic, very fast.”
After Watkins was rescued, a handful of other good samaritans, including the lifeguard, worked together to save his son, who was in the driver’s seat, and their pet dog Chihuahua.
Telling her side of the story to Insider Audition, Watkins was happy and grateful for the rescue, even recalling how rescuers pushed her from behind to save her from the sinking vehicle.
Perez, when asked by CBS if he would do the same thing again, had a very reassuring response: “I would just hope people would do the right thing, and that’s what we’re all here for, to be here for one another and for support.”
Watkins, who is alive and well with her four-year-old Chihuahua at the time, gave a touching message to the heroes who helped them survive the incident.
“I say: Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Watkins said.
People on social media applauded the good samaritans for their volunteerism, proving that faith in humanity has been restored again.
“This dude is my hero. Now I feel motivated to rescue others or do something better with my life. God Bless,” someone posted.
“When an elderly woman thanks you from the bottom of her heart, you know she means because no one says that anymore,” one user shared.
Salute to all good-hearted people out there! What do you think of the heroic deed the good samaritans did to save the woman? Would you have done the same thing and helped them too? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones to lighten up their day!
