A teen didn't think twice before diving into the Homosassa River to rescue an elderly friend who accidentally drove into the water.
By SUZANNAH GONZALES
Published September 5, 2003
[Times photos: Ron Thompson]
Donny Holman of Holman Towing fishes Eustace Hiram Locklear's car from the Homosassa River.
Matt Harriman jumped in, pried the car door open, freed the driver and tugged him to the surface.
HOMOSASSA - As he does most mornings, retired fishing guide Eustace Hiram Locklear pulled into MacRae's bait and tackle shop Thursday to get a little gas.
Then, with one slip of the foot, all hell broke loose.
Locklear, 77, stepped on the gas, instead of the brake.
Within moments, Locklear and his Chevrolet Lumina were rolling into the 8-foot-deep Homosassa River.
"Don't let me drown!" he screamed. "Don't let me drown, Matt!"
Matt Harriman, 17, a worker at MacRae's, wasn't about to.
He dived in after Locklear. As the car filled with water, Harriman pried open the door with his hands. After a furious but failed attempt to unbuckle the seat belt, Harriman managed to free his elderly friend from the restraint.
About 20 seconds later, the two of them surfaced to safety.
"I love him. I owe my life to him," Locklear said Thursday afternoon. "He's a good boy."
Locklear is a regular customer at MacRae's, which has boat rentals, a motel, a Tiki bar, bait and tackle shop, and gas pump. Harriman, in fact, usually pumps Locklear's gas.
The two of them are good buddies. They've known each other a few years, running in to one another around town.
So, when Locklear's car went in the water, Harriman had no hesitation.
Although the water was a little murky, he could still see. And he could see the look of terror on Locklear's face.
Locklear's shoes and clothes were filled with water. With all the car windows up, and his seat belt still on, Locklear, a capable swimmer, felt trapped.
Harriman grabbed the handle of the unlocked driver's door. He pulled it open with both hands.
He tried to find the seat belt buckle, but couldn't. He grabbed the strap across Locklear's chest and pulled. The belt unbuckled.
Harriman grabbed Locklear underneath his arms and pulled him above water.
He saw Gator MacRae, who manages MacRae's, in the water beside him. Both men helped Locklear to the dock.
Locklear said he hurt his left leg and right shoulder as he was pulled from the car. EMS treated Locklear on the scene, but he was not taken to the hospital.
"I don't know if I'm a hero or not," Harriman said. "It makes me feel good that I helped someone out though."
