A motorist narrowly avoided drowning in his car over the weekend thanks to a dramatic rescue by members of the Henry County Fire Department.

  In the early morning hours of August 3, units responded to a report of a car in the water at 1720 Lake Dow Road, according to a statement issued by the HCFD later that day. Upon arrival, crews found a partially submerged car in the small pond next to Pilgreen’s Steakhouse.

  The driver was still in the vehicle and was visible to rescuers on land, and although his head was above water he would not respond to commands or answer questions, officials stated. While attempting to get the driver to respond, the crew members on the scene saw the vehicle begin to slide further into the water.

  “The incident commander made the decision to send one rescuer into the water,” according to the report.

  HCFD spokesman Michael Black told the Times Monday that the department’s dive team was en route but had not yet arrived, so it was deemed a surface rescue and time-critical. A single firefighter swam to the car without any special equipment and was able to get the passenger’s side door open without any problem, helping the man in the car escape just in time.

  Had no action been taken, the water was more than deep enough to completely submerge the car. “It was quickly sinking to the bottom,” said Black.

  After being taken safely to shore, the driver of the car was evaluated on the scene by an EMS crew and chose not to be taken to the hospital, according to officials. He was the only person in the car, according to Black.

  A post on the HCFD’s official Facebook page describing the incident credited the work done by “C shift Co. 10, squad 1, SR 12, B3, Car 1, and all involved.”

  Once the rescue was completed, an investigation was begun by the Henry County Police Department into how the car got in the water in the first place.