By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
I pulled around the parkway on the side, grabbed my rope, jumped over the fence, got to the guys, threw myself in the water and then waited for help to come, Eberhart said.
The Point Lookout resident was on his way to a friend's house on Saturday, March 30, when he saw Ronald Ley, a corrections officer, standing by the Loop Parkway Bridge and waving his arms. Eberhart saw the two men in the water and immediately pulled his truck to the side of the parkway, grabbed rope from his vehicle, ran down the side of the bridge, over a fence and into the chilly waters to rescue them.
As of press time, the identities of the victims are unknown.
There were two victims in the water, Point Lookout and Lido Beach assistant chief Timothy Collins said. The first gentleman slipped underneath the rail, the other guy went into the water to go get him and they both got trapped in the water.
As Eberhart pushed them out of the water, a Bay Constable pulled the victims on to the pier. The Marine Bureau of Nassau County was called to the scene. Both men were transported to Long Beach Medical Center with the assistance from the Long Beach Fire Department.
Collins, who responded to the scene shortly after, said one victim was on the verge of hypothermia since the water was only 44 degrees.
When Eberhart rescued the men, who were fishing since early that morning, he said he was unsure of how long they were in the water, but one was turning purple.
Eberhart will receive a citation for his rescue efforts from Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi on Thursday, April 4.
For Eberhart, being considered a hero isn't an everyday thing.
I'm new to this, Eberhart said. I just went and did it...Everything went so fast.
