MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – On Tuesday night, witnesses helped to rescue the driver and a 1-year-old passenger after a vehicle drove into the Menasha Marina and became submerged.

Around 8:55 p.m. on August 19, officers with the Menasha Police Department were called to the Menasha Marina on Center Street after getting word that a vehicle had gone into the water.

When officers arrived, they learned the driver, a woman, had been inside the vehicle with her one-year-old child, who was secured in a car seat.

Officers say the mother acted with ‘extraordinary courage’ and was able to free her child from the submerged vehicle and to safety.

As the mother worked to rescue her child, one community member sprinted toward the marina, scaling a fence without hesitation to reach them. This individual’s fearless response set the tone for the rescue. Two additional community members quickly arrived and provided immediate support, working together to ensure both mother and child were safe. Officers confirmed all individuals were accounted for and that no one else was inside the vehicle.

Menasha Police Department

The cause of the accident appeared to have been confusion in vehicle control, officers say.

“The courage shown by this mother and the community members who rushed to her side prevented a tragedy,” said Chief Nick Thorn of the Menasha Police Department. “Their actions reflect the very best of our community and remind us how powerful it is when people step forward in moments of need.”

This investigation remains ongoing.