Navy Swimmer Executes Daring Rescue in Virginia Beach
January 20, 2026
A casual lunch at a Virginia Beach restaurant took a dramatic turn when a Navy rescue swimmer heroically intervened to save a woman trapped in her sinking SUV. The quick actions of several Good Samaritans, including the trained Navy swimmer, turned a potential tragedy into a tale of heroism.
While having lunch at Bubba’s on Shore Drive, Jeremy Way noticed an alarming situation. “Sitting here having lunch, and there’s a large splash against the windows, that was way higher than it should’ve been,” Way recalled.
An SUV had plunged off the boat ramp, quickly submerging in the cold water. Way promptly assessed the urgent situation and leaped into action. “I knew it was going to be cold, I think the air temperature was 29 degrees at the time,” he said. “I just dove right in.”
Upon reaching the vehicle, Way found the driver in distress, hesitant to unlock the doors as the SUV filled with water. With the help of bystanders attempting to break the glass, Way persisted in coaxing the driver, finally managing to extricate her as the vehicle slipped underwater.
Way recounted the tense moments: “The car was completely underwater. She finally came out, and I did what I’ve always been taught — rescue swimmer techniques — and swam her toward safety.”
The manager of Bubba’s, Dan Baker, described the scene as extraordinary.
“The car started to sink, and then two of these guys, these citizens, heroines, just lifted this person out of the water as the car was gone. I mean, they just lifted this person out of the water. It was crazy. It was surreal.”
All individuals involved in the rescue, including the driver and Good Samaritans, were safely extracted from the water. They were taken to a hospital where their injuries were deemed non-life-threatening by police.
Reflecting on the event, Way expressed a sense of purpose. “I came out to get some lunch,” he said. “I’m an aviation rescue swimmer. I was here for a reason. ‘So others may live’ — it’s our motto.”
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