MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – On Tuesday night, bystanders assisted in rescuing the driver and a 1-year-old passenger after a car drove into the Menasha Marina and submerged.

Around 8:55 p.m. on August 19, Menasha Police Department officers were alerted to Center Street’s Menasha Marina after reports of a vehicle entering 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 tried to save her child, one community member dashed to the marina, climbing a fence without delay to reach them. This person’s brave actions initiated the rescue. Two more community members soon arrived to offer immediate aid, collectively ensuring the safety of both mother and child. Officers verified that everyone was out of the vehicle and no others were inside.

Menasha Police Department

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

“The bravery of this mother and the community members who rushed to assist her averted a tragedy,” stated Chief Nick Thorn of the Menasha Police Department. “Their actions exemplify the best of our community and remind us of the power of stepping in during times of need.”

This investigation remains ongoing.