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February 23, 2001 Freetown MA
David Roy rescues an accident victim trapped underwater
After a light snowstorm, a car driven by Delyx
Fleurival, a 32 year old laborer, and father of four children slid into the
frigid waters of the Assonet river in Freetown, Ma and overturned on the morning
of February 23. Fleurival was trapped inside the car, struggling to keep
his head above the icy water.
David Roy, a father of two from Freetown Ma, an oil truck
driver for 12 years, usually starts his day at 4:15 am. On Friday February 23. His
7 daughter, who was on school vacation decided to accompany him on a delivery to
Lakeville, MA. While crossing the Assonet river bridge, Roy noticed the
undercarriage of a car sticking out of the water. He stopped his
truck, and using a portable phone, dialed 911. Telling his daughter
to stay in the truck, he went to investigate, yelling from the bridge "Is
anybody in there?"
Delyx Fleurival, responded "Yes, I'm in here. I
don't have much air and I'm freezing"
Roy assured him help was on the way and asked "Can
you hang in there?"
Fleurival recalls screaming , "I don't think so, I
don't have much air and I'm freezing. Help me, I have wife and four
kids."
At this, Roy descended
to the water's edge, stepping on a thin layer of ice toward the vehicle.
He broke through the ice, first up to his ankles, then his knees, then his
waist. Roy later said he didn't give much thought to the possibility that
he might die leaving his own children fatherless. I just started praying
to God everything was going to work out. I just started thinking there was
a guy in that car and if I don't do something about it, he's going to
die."
The frigid water was excruciating. Roy couldn't
believe how cold it was, but he said, "At that point I was already into it,
and I wasn't going back." After wading 10 to 20 feet, Roy reached the
car, and opened the door, finding Fleurival craning for breath. Using his
feet for leverage, he pulled Fleurival from the vehicle. "Next thing
I knew, He had me in a bear hug." said Roy.
Fleurival was treated and released the same day from St.
Anne's Hospital in Fall River. Fleurival went to Roy's home in Freetown,
MA later that evening to thank Roy for saving his life. The photograph
which accompanied the article in the Providence Journal is an illustration of
racial harmony. The photograph shows joy on the faces of 32 year old
Fleurival, a Haitian immigrant, embracing Roy, a 34 year old working man.
Fleurival's ID bracelet from the hospital is still on his wrist in the
photograph, taken in the kitchen of Roy's home. Afterward, Fleurival said,
"I want him to know that he saved my life today. He is my hero
forever. After God, it's him."
This synopsis was based on a story appearing in the Providence Journal, February 24, 2001 page 1.
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