By Brooke A. Lewis
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — A Harris County deputy saved the life early Saturday morning of a drowning man in a west Harris County pond, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputy S. Arhelger was walking his dog about 6:45 a.m. in the 300 block of Cobia Drive around a pond, when he spotted a blue and white colored Chrysler PT Cruiser leave the roadway and head into the pond.
The vehicle began to sink after traveling about 30 yards into the pond. Arhelger began swimming over to the vehicle, and he noticed a 29-year-old man slumped at the wheel.
Once the deputy made it to the car, the PT Cruiser was completely submerged under water. It was later determined that the driver had suffered a seizure while driving and was unconscious.
The deputy opened the driver’s side door and with the help from another man nearby, they pulled the victim out of his vehicle.
Arhelger swam back to the shore and got a life jacket and a tow rope. He put the life jacket on the male victim and tied the rope to his jacket. With the help of the rope, fire fighters and EMS personnel pulled the man to shore.
He was transported to a local hospital and released later Saturday evening in good condition.
HSCO said the deputy’s efforts to save the man demonstrate the sheriff office’s values “to protect our citizens with honor and courage.”
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