The young hero, John Agnello, was fishing for bass and walleye when he noticed the car plunging into the lake. Reacting swiftly, he and a nearby bystander, a neighbor out with his dog, jumped into action. Together, they swam to the sinking vehicle. Agnello broke the back window, made sure no one else was in the car with the driver and, along with his neighbor, saved the woman and pulled her safely to shore.

A rapid response in troubled waters

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The car had driven through the grass before it entered the lake and Agnello recounted that he saw the car go under and knew he had to do something. With the vehicle quickly sinking, time was of the essence. Agnello, recalling lessons from his first responder mother, grabbed a rock and smashed the car’s back window to gain access.

“My family taught me to take action, not just stand there and go on my phone,” Agnello said. “That’s how they raised me, so that’s what I did.” His decisive actions were pivotal in saving the woman’s life.

Shoreline support.

Once the woman was safely on shore, she was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. According to police, she was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The car was later pulled from the water by a tow truck.

Beth Agnello, John’s mother, expressed immense pride in her son. “I’m so proud of him. I think we found his career path, and I can’t wait to watch him grow,” she said, beaming with pride. The young man nodded and said, “Yeah,” clearly moved by his mom’s praise and pride of his actions.

A ripple of inspiration.

The incident has sparked a wave of admiration from the local community and beyond. “It’s really overwhelming with all the community outreach and support and glory to God,” said Beth Agnello. “I hope he stays humble and mature in this experience.”

John’s father also received praise for instilling fitness and preparedness in his son. “His dad does a great job teaching him fitness,” Beth noted, acknowledging the teamwork in their family’s approach to raising a responsible young man.

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Reflecting on the event, John shared his hope that others would be motivated to act in times of crisis. “I hope other people saw this and would probably do the same thing,” he said.

In a world often in need of heroes, John Agnello’s bravery serves as a powerful reminder of the impact one individual can make. His actions not only saved a life but also inspired a community.