A Texas police officer demonstrated his commitment to protecting and serving the community after being called to help and doing just that.
Recently released body camera footage captures the heart-pounding moments when West Orange police officer Charles Cobb and a Good Samaritan quickly sprang into action to save a mother’s life.
On July 24, Officer Cobb was monitoring traffic when he noticed a 12-year-old boy running toward him in the roadway. The boy flagged him down, urgently explaining that his mother had suffered a seizure and needed help. “She’s having a seizure! She’s stuck! She’s in the water, help her!” the boy exclaimed in the bodycam video. The footage reveals the front of the vehicle submerged in water, with the daughter attempting but failing to pull her mother out.
A Good Samaritan, Epifanio Munguia, along with other men, quickly joined the effort as Officer Cobb worked to access the vehicle. According to a police statement, “Officer Cobb was able to rescue driver Jonquetta Winbush from the vehicle, who was unconscious, pulseless, and not breathing.” Officer Cobb immediately performed CPR, and after some time, Winbush regained a pulse and began breathing on her own. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) later arrived and transported her to the hospital.
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Jonquetta Winbush remains in the ICU three weeks after the incident.
Munguia who spoke with ABC News recalled the scary moments: “I realized that it was happening at that very moment. I pulled over and I jumped in the water.” Munguia went on to say that he and others were able to break the submerged car’s back window but the car then began to sink.
Frantic and eager to get her out, they quickly gained hope. “As soon as we were opening the door, the front door, I heard ‘I got her,’ and I felt like I won the lottery,” Munguia said. “I remember grabbing her hand and I could feel the pulse in her wrist. I really don’t know how to describe it to you other than just life started coming back into her.”
Although the mother is still recovering, Bevnisha Holman, Winbush’s sister, told ABC that they are truly grateful for every single person who helped.
“My sister and my niece and nephew, they all needed you. Y’all stepped in. Y’all didn’t hesitate,” Holman said.