Two off-duty firefighters are being hailed as heroes after they and a group of quick-thinking bystanders sprang into action to rescue three people from a submerged vehicle in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

According to the Gloucester Fire Department, the dramatic incident unfolded on the morning of Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Park. Around 10:49 a.m., a car carrying three people went over a seawall, dropping approximately 15 to 20 feet into the water below.

Deputy Chief Andrew McRobb and Lieutenant William Doucette, who were off-duty at the time, witnessed the crash and immediately alerted emergency services. Without hesitation, Lt. Doucette jumped into the water and worked with crew members from a nearby lobster boat to break a window with a hammer and pull the passengers from the overturned car.

“Working together with some incredibly brave bystanders, they managed to get all three people out of the vehicle, which had landed upside-down in the water,” the department said in a press release.

By the time first responders arrived, the victims had been pulled from the car but were still in the water. Doucette, McRobb, and others provided first aid and kept the victims’ heads above water until help arrived.

All three passengers were conscious and alert when they were taken to a local hospital with various injuries. Lt. Doucette was also taken in for treatment of minor injuries.

“Lt. Doucette jumped into the water with little regard for his own safety,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tom LoGrande. “Thankfully, he’s okay. If not for the bold and decisive actions of these firefighters and the bystanders who stepped in, this could have been a much more tragic day.”

Officials noted that the situation could have been even worse if the crash had happened during high tide. Preliminary findings suggest the vehicle drove around granite barriers before going over the seawall.

The car was later pulled from the water.

Fire Chief Eric Smith praised everyone involved in the rescue. “If not for their selfless efforts, this could have ended in tragedy,” he said. “Instead, it’s a powerful reminder of how a community can come together to save lives. This makes me proud to call Gloucester home.”