In a remarkable turn of events that seems straight out of a heroic tale, five sorority sisters from the University of Georgia transformed a potentially tragic incident into a story of survival and bravery. The young women, on their way to a weekend getaway, found themselves in a life-or-death situation that tested their courage and quick thinking, resulting in the rescue of a mother and her two children from a dire predicament.
The drama unfolded on a quiet stretch of road between Athens, Ga., and Savannah, when the group encountered a scene that would forever change the lives of those involved. According to Fox affiliate WAGA-TV, Molly McCollum, one of the sorority sisters, described the moment they came upon a bridge overlooking a creek, only to witness an SUV veering off the road and plummeting into the water below.
These five sorority rescued a mom and her children from their submerged vehicle after it crashed into a creek. Photo by Burke County Sheriff’s Office
Without a second thought, the five women—Molly McCollum, Jane McArdle, Eleanor Cart, Clarke Jones, and Kaitlyn Iannace—sprang into action. They quickly made their way to the crash site, where they found the vehicle submerged and the family trapped inside. “We kind of, like, pull over super fast, turn, go down this hill to this boat ramp area, and we just see like this white minivan submerged underwater,” McCollum recounted.
The driver, Cori Craft, and her two children were in a state of shock, struggling to escape the sinking SUV. Craft told a local news station about the terrifying moment when she lost control of her vehicle due to the rainy conditions. “Once the car came to a stop, and I realized I was in the water,” she said.
All I was thinking is like I have to get out and get my kids out.”
The sorority sisters didn’t hesitate. They dove into the water, managing to free Craft’s 8-year-old child first. However, her younger son, aged four, was underwater for several agonizing minutes before they could reach him. Clarke Jones, who had lifeguard training, performed CPR on the young boy, ultimately saving his life.
The submerged vehicle left tracks on its way into the creek. Photo from Fox 5
“I didn’t have time to swim up to the shore or anything,” Jones said. “So I just sat on a tire and I laid him out on the side of the car that wasn’t under the water yet and performed CPR. Then eventually he came to and started crying and breathing. “It was a really surreal experience,” Jones said.
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office and Craft have since expressed their deep gratitude to the women for their heroic efforts. “The quick thinking and bravery of these women is absolutely admirable,” the police said in a statement. Craft herself wishes for nothing more than to thank her rescuers in person. “We are able to be here today because of how they helped,” she said. Watch below for a look at these amazing girls and their heroic actions that day!
