‘THEY SAVED MY LIFE’ - Flat Bridge crash survivor returns to thank divers

When Jermaine Scott told two divers who rescued him from the Rio Cobre after his car fell off Flat Bridge, that he would return to show his gratitude, they brushed aside his promise. They have heard similar pronouncements but have never seen them materalised.

Yesterday, however, Scott, 28, along with some members of his family, surprised the unsung heroes with a token, thanked them for their service.

Standing on the bank of the river, that has claimed countless number of lives, Scott recalled his near-death experience on May 8. He said that he was heading to his home in Spanish Town, from Ocho Rios, St Ann, after completing his first day on the job as a chef at the Riu hotel.

"I wasn't speeding or anything, but when I reached close to the bridge there was a car parked so I went around it and I couldn't make the lock, so I had to take it deep, and I drop in the pothole and the tyre blow out and I panicked," Scott said.

What happened next was frightening. The car plunged into the water below, and had it not been for Dwayne 'Lizard' Stapelton and Rosaine 'Chupsy' McLaughin, two divers who were close by, his story would have been different.

"As it was going over, I just see my life ending and I see my families and friends flashing in front of me at once. But is like I hear a voice telling me not to give up because it is not my time yet. I tried to pull the door and I realised that I was wearing the seatbelt, and then I realised that my chain was tangled up in the seatbelt and I had to burst the chain," Scott said.

As the vehicle began to sink into the water, Scott managed to exit through a window and made his way to the top of the sinking car. He then heard a loud voice. It was Lizard's.

"Him seh just 'jump bredda!', and mi a say 'mi can't swim'. And him jump in the water and mi jump to him, but the way mi a panic is like mi a bring him down suh him have to let mi guh, and mi start go back down in the water again. Mi feel like summen a pull mi down but mi fight it to come up, and mi all start take in water. Thank God for Lizard who come from backway and kick away my legs dem, hold mi by my neck and pull mi out along with Chupsy," he said.

Having been snatched from death's door, Scott said that he sat on the bank of the river as the emotions of disbelief and gratitude ran through his body.

Extremely grateful

He had received injures to his back and neck, but he was extremely grateful to be alive. He said he isn't fearful of driving across the Flat Bridge or through the gorge since the incident, but said that he has been having constant flashbacks.

"Everytime I wash my face I remember how the water was over it. I am just thankful for Chupsy and Lizard who saved my life because without them I would have drowned," he said.

'Lizard' was happy that Scott returned to say thanks yesterday. He said that on the day of the incident, he braved the dreaded river with an injured arm to assist in saving Scott's life.

"Whole heap a people lives mi save but a di first inna mi life from we deh here a save people somebody come back and look fi we. Mi just haffi say Jah, Jah, God! Mi can't believe it, it hard to explain. But it is a good moment fi we right now because dem come back come look fi we. If dem did come and nuh give we dollar, mi would be happy same way, trust mi," the hero diver said.