Rescuers help get a woman out of the water after driving a stolen vehicle into the ocean at Portland’s Eastern Promenade park on Thursday. Photo courtesy of NewsCenter Maine
A lobsterman helped first responders rescue a woman who drove a stolen vehicle off Portland’s East End boat launch and into Casco Bay just after noon Thursday.
The 33-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was unresponsive and without a pulse when she was rescued from the submerged vehicle, but emergency responders were able to revive her and transport her to Maine Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition Thursday night.
The car, a red 2015 Ford Mustang, was stolen in South Portland Thursday morning. The boat launch off Cutter Street is located just feet from East End Beach and the heavily traveled Eastern Promenade walking and biking trail.
The Portland Fire Department was notified at 12:08 p.m. that a vehicle had entered the ocean and was sinking, spokesman Sean Donaghue said. When fire and police responders arrived at 12:10 p.m. they confirmed that a car was sinking about 75 yards from shore with one occupant inside.
Emergency responders forced entry into the vehicle while it was underwater, Donaghue said. A good Samaritan on a nearby lobster boat put on diving gear and entered the water to assist first responders with removing the driver, who Donaghue said was a woman.
The Marine 3 fire boat crew started CPR before bringing the driver to shore. Crews on the mainland were able to resuscitate her.
Water temperatures were cold – around 50 degrees, Donaghue said.
A Portland police officer who responded to the incident told WMTW-TV that it was the operator of the lobster boat Nicole Marie who assisted first responders with the rescue. No other details regarding the lobster boat operator were provided.
Brad Nadeau, spokesman for the Portland Police Department, said the South Portland Police Department would decide whether the driver will be charged with theft of a motor vehicle.
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