Broward Deputy Reunited with Woman and 2-Year-Old He Rescued From Sinking Car

A Broward Sheriff’s deputy is being hailed as a hero after saving a grandmother and her 2-year-old granddaughter from a car that had plunged into a canal late last month in Pompano Beach. The terrifying ordeal unfolded just moments after the pair had left a Walmart in Lauderdale Lakes. Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Alencar, who was working an off-duty security shift at the store, heard from a bystander that a car had driven into the water nearby. Without hesitation, he rushed to the scene, where he saw a blue car quickly sinking with two people trapped inside.

“The Vehicle Was Sinking”

Deputy Alencar recalled the moment he realized the urgency of the situation. “It was the end of my shift, and a lady came knocking on the window saying a car went into the canal,” he said. “I saw there was a lady and a baby in the back seat, and the vehicle was sinking.” The vehicle belonged to grandmother Audrey Villieres. As panic set in for her, instinct kicked in for Alencar, who immediately dove into the canal. The water was deep, and he couldn’t touch the bottom, but he grabbed the back door handle and managed to break the window. “When I reached the vehicle, I realized I couldn’t stand. I broke the window and got the baby out first,” he said. “It was hard to swim while holding the baby, but I raised him above my head and swam back to shore.”

Rescue Captured on Video

After getting the child to safety, Alencar returned to the car for Villieres. He was able to pry the door open and swim her back to land. The dramatic rescue was caught on video and released by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, capturing the heart-stopping moments of bravery and selflessness. Following the rescue, Alencar was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but he was more concerned about the child’s well-being. Fortunately, both Villieres and her granddaughter were unharmed and later reunited with the deputy who had saved their lives.

Family Grateful for Hero Deputy

Villieres expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m happy to see him and I’m happy that he’s fine and okay.” Her daughter, Sheree Linton, echoed that sentiment: “I’m so happy that he was working at Walmart that day. If he weren’t, I don’t know what would have happened.” Alencar remained humble despite the praise, saying that as a father himself, he acts with the community as if they were his own family. “Before being a deputy, I’m a father,” he said. “When I do anything for the community, I always picture doing something for my family.”