Blaine Gabbert: Buccaneers quarterback helped rescue household from a helicopter crash through jet ski

Muricas News  — 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Blaine Gabbert used jet skis to assist rescue the occupants of a helicopter after it crash landed within the water on Thursday, he mentioned in a press convention on Friday.

He and his two brothers, Tyler and Brett, have been jetskiing in Hillsborough Bay, Florida when he mentioned they heard “a faint noise.”

“We circled… and I simply keep in mind trying to the west and seeing – it nearly seemed like a crew boat that had damaged up within the water into about 4 items – and I vaguely keep in mind seeing like two yellow lifejackets,” Gabbert mentioned.

As soon as he reached the location, Gabbert mentioned he realized that it was a helicopter within the water and anticipated the “worst case state of affairs.”

Tampa police mentioned that the helicopter was making its means again to Peter O. Knight Airport when the pilot allegedly heard a loud bang after which misplaced energy.

Roughly 300 toes from the airport’s seashore, the pilot carried out an emergency touchdown into the water close to the Davis Islands Yacht Membership, police mentioned, with all occupants ending up within the water.

“It seemed like they have been in misery. We raced over there, the youngest child had simply come up and he mentioned he was pinned in there and I requested if anybody else was trapped,” Gabbert mentioned, recalling later within the press convention that the household have been all visibly shaken up and coated in oil from the crash touchdown.

“Then I known as 911, tried to stay as calm as doable…I used to be good place, proper time. The credit score actually goes out to Tampa police division, the hearth division, and the Sheriff’s division as a result of they have been there inside 5 seconds.

“It was fairly outstanding. I received two on my jet ski, my brothers received one, the pilot was nonetheless within the water. That was whenever you guys confirmed up.”

Footage captured by the Tampa Police Division, who arrived on the scene shortly after Gabbert and his brothers, present the jet skis circling the crash website, and the helicopter pilot climbing aboard the police boat.

Gabbert and his brothers piloted their jet skis safely again to the seashore, and he was made an honorary member of the Tampa Police Marine Patrol after his half in Thursday’s rescue.