Mother escapes overturned, swept away car with baby, holds onto tree until rescuers arrive

Bexar County Sheriff's deputies rescued a woman and her 1-year-old baby on May 18, 2016 after they were swept away by flood waters on the Medina River on the far Southwest Side in the 7800 block of Cagnon Road. Bexar County Sheriff's deputies rescued a woman and her 1-year-old baby on May 18, 2016 after they were swept away by flood waters on the Medina River on the far Southwest Side in the 7800 block of Cagnon Road. Photo: Mark D. Wilson Photo: Mark D. Wilson Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close Mother escapes overturned, swept away car with baby, holds onto tree until rescuers arrive 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County Sheriff's deputies rescued a woman and her infant Wednesday morning after they were swept away by flood waters on the Medina River on the far Southwest Side.

Deputies were called to the 7800 Cagnon Road around 8 a.m. after receiving reports that the woman's vehicle had been swept off the road and overturned, officials said.

MORE: Thousands without power following heavy San Antonio-area storms

The woman, who is in her 40s, managed to get out of the vehicle with her 1-year-old and latch on to nearby trees until off-duty BCSO Cpl. Jason Jarvis arrived and pulled her from the water.

“As we stand here today, there is a woman and her baby who are alive because of one of our deputies putting his life at risk to save her,” said Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau.

Jarvis said he was on his way to work when he heard an emergency tone sound on his radio.

“I was literally less than a mile away,” Jarvis said at a press conference at the Bexar County Jail Wednesday afternoon. He said he made a split second decision to get to the scene and help.

With the help of a man who worked at a nearby nursery, Jarvis entered the water and swam out to the woman, who was holding the little girl on her shoulder.

“She was blue in the face, purple in the lips and shaking uncontrollably,” Jarvis said of the child.

Jarvis swam the baby back to the shore and handed her to the nursery worker, then returned for the woman.

“The water got really deep. At that point it got scary. I think my life flashed before my eyes when I was swimming out to her,” Jarvis said.

After the woman was safely back to shore, authorities used helicopters to search for the SUV, which, had not been seen since rescuers arrived at the scene.

Both the woman and child were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Pamerleau said even small amounts of water can lead to similar situations, and urged drivers to avoid driving around barricades or into flooded sections of roads.

Pamerleau said 28 roads were shut down due to flooding as a result of storms on Wednesday morning.

“Anytime there is a weather-related event, turn around, don’t drown,” she said. “Even with the slightest amount of water over a roadway, it can carry you away.”

mdwilson@express-news.net

Twitter: @MDWilsonSA