Video shows Florida paramedic jumping into lake to save fisherman in cardiac arrest

'He needed assistance immediately,' first responder says

Published Aug 25, 2026  •  Last updated 20 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

This screengrab taken from footage from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office helicopter shows a boat where a fisherman was suffering from cardiac arrest on Lake Woodruff, Fla., on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. Photo by Volusia Sheriff's Office /screengrab

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A first responder in Florida went above and beyond when he jumped from a helicopter into a lake to help a fisherman in cardiac arrest Sunday morning.

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Video released by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office showed flight paramedic Matt Brunelle responding to a 911 call by leaping from the force’s rescue helicopter, swimming up to a pontoon boat on Lake Woodruff where a man had collapsed after suffering a medical emergency.

Speaking to ClickOrlando.com, Brunelle said he didn’t hesitate when he jumped about 20 feet from the helicopter to the lake to reach the fisherman and his wife on the boat.

“So it was almost instant,” Brunelle said. “He needed assistance immediately — and her being by herself.”

Boater assists deputies at the scene

The video then cuts to bodycam footage from deputies on the ground asking a Good Samaritan with a boat to help them reach the fisherman on the lake.

As they head out, the Good Samaritan tells the deputies that the lake’s average depth is only four feet.

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“You can walk across it, except for gators,” he adds with a laugh.

Rescuers ‘gave their best’

As they pull up to the fisherman’s boat, Brunelle is seen opening the side door of the vessel for the deputies to board, where they continued to perform CPR.

Volusia Sheriff’s Office said as the deputies continued resusitation efforts as Brunelle drove the boat toward land to meet an ambulance, where the fisherman was taken to a local hospital.

Police said the 56-year-old man was later pronounced dead.

“We were hoping to deliver the good news that his life was saved,” Volusia Sheriff’s Office said. “Instead, we are sending sincere condolences to this man’s family, friends and loved ones. It’s not the outcome we hoped for, but everyone involved in this call gave their best to give him a chance.”

Brunelle told ClickOrlando.com that the lake was in a remote area, where rescuers could have taken at least 20 minutes by boat to reach the man in distress.

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