On Sunday, June 28, at 9:46 p.m., Alameda Fire Department (AFD) responded to a report of a vehicle in the water at the Grand Street Boat Launch, with one person trapped, according to an AFD report [1] on Facebook.
[2]The initial response consisted of two engines, one ladder truck, one rescue company, one rescue boat, one medic unit, one Battalion Chief and the Alameda CARE Team, according to the report. One additional engine, one fireboat and two medic units were also requested to respond to the scene.
“The first arriving unit confirmed that a vehicle was submerged approximately 15 feet deep and was located 100 feet from the shore,” AFD stated. “The AFD Dive Team initiated a dive operation and removed one victim from inside the vehicle. The adult male patient was then transported to Highland Hospital with life-threatening injuries.”
A secondary search of the vehicle and surrounding area was completed and no additional victims were found, the report added. The dive team then assisted the tow company with recovery of the vehicle.
A total of 26 firefighters responded. There were no reported firefighter injuries.
The Alameda Police Department, United States Coast Guard, and Alameda County Sheriff’s Department all provided assistance. Additionally, the Oakland Fire Department provided mutual aid station coverage.
One reader commented: “That ramp has always been dangerous,” noting that “…when Grand Street went straight into the water, a woman that was missing for days was found in her car underwater at the ramp. The City modified the street, forcing traffic to go into the parking lot and not directly into the ramp, which surely helped.”
Most of the comments were especially thankful to AFD. “So honored to support our AFD dive team,” one person wrote. “They train hard for situations like this and it shows.”