Abandoned Car Call Ends With GP Officer Saving Woman From Lake
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GRAND PRAIRIE (CBSDFW.COM) - A Grand Prairie police officer, on his way home this morning, stopped to check an abandoned car and ended up saving a woman's life.
Officer Lyle Gensler with Grand Prairie police says the off-duty policeman heard a call about a car parked on Lakeridge Bridge, near the marina on Joe Pool Lake. The officer stopped by the scene and first saw an unoccupied car and a pair of sneakers. He then looked over the edge of the bridge and saw a woman struggling in the water.
"The car was totally fine, so it wasn't stalled," explained Gensler. "We believe that she had possibly pulled over, got out of her vehicle, and jumped off the bridge. It was probably a 50 or 60 [foot] fall into the water."
The officer, who has not been identified, immediately went into action. "He stripped down in his gear, got rid of his gun belt and all the heavy stuff, jumped in the water and was able to pull her toward the shoreline."
Gensler says another officer arrived and helped the pair as they struggled to make it to land. The woman, who suffered no serious injuries, has been taken to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
"This had a very happy ending," Gensler said. "We were able to save this lady's life and those two officers, if you were to stand them up and ask them, would say, 'Hey, I just did nothing more than my job.'"
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