Woman ‘glad to be alive’ after 18-year-old saves her from drowning in floodwaters

AURORA, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - An 18-year-old Ohio man jumped into action to save a woman caught in floodwaters before she could get sucked into a drainage pipe.

Melissa Fitzwater says 18-year-old Andrew Marino saved her life when she ended up walking into a flooded creek on Nautilus Trail in Aurora, Ohio.

“I’m just glad to be here. I’m glad to be alive,” Fitzwater told WOIO. “I’m only 31. I have a lot of life left to live. I have a 4-year-old at home, so I have to be there for her.”

Fitzwater was in the neighborhood Thursday working for a client after massive storms. When she was ready to leave, she couldn’t drive out because the rain caused a lot of flooding.

“It seemed like both exits out of this area were blocked, so there was no way for me to get out,” she said.

Taking the advice of a police officer, Fitzwater grabbed her things and started walking to the nearest intersection to get a ride from her mother. She says the street was filled with water, but it wasn’t until she got to the intersection of Regatta Trail that things got scary.

“As soon as I walked off this grass patch, I went underwater,” Fitzwater said. “It was like life flashed before my eyes. I felt for the concrete edge, and I grabbed onto it. That’s when I sat there and waved my arm up, saying, ‘Please help me.’”

Marino and his friend were nearby and stepped up. The 18-year-old got into the water, started swimming and saved Fitzwater before she could get sucked into a drainage pipe.

“I’m shocked I didn’t get caught on one of the rocks, honestly,” Marino said. “There’s so many ways this situation could have gone poorly.”

In just two days, Marino will head to college to study finance and play football. He says his heroic deed is an example of all he’s learned growing up.

“We’re here for a good time, not a long time, but still, you want to make that time as long as you can,” he said.

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