Around 5p yesterday, a helicopter crashed into the water near Davis Island in Tampa. Thankfully, the passengers were able to escape the aircraft. They were stranded in the water, until some good samaritans came to the rescue. One of them was Tampa Bay Bucs’ quarterback, Blaine Gabbert.
According to Fox Sports and Fox 13 News, Tampa police were called to the area of Peter O. Knight Airport after receiving a report of the helicopter sinking in the bay. The helicopter pilot and three passengers took off from the airport for a scenic ride of Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, that’s where the chopper lost power and crashed about 300-feet from shore. Two Tampa residents quickly jumped on their jet ski’s and rescued the stranded family and pilot. Although the family visiting from Philly probably wasn’t aware that it was Bucs’ back-up QB that came to their rescue.
“Let me tell you, helicopters sink really fast,” one of the passengers described. “We learned that rather quickly.”
We’ll get more details today, but Bucs quarterback Blaine Gabbert was one of the first to respond on his jet ski Thursday evening when a helicopter went into the water off Davis Islands. All four aboard survived, with Gabbert’s help. https://t.co/DkWVPe9XNc
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 30, 2022
Amazing photo from Hunter Hupp, showing him in the water and jet skis in background (including Blaine Gabbert and Hupp’s mother) after they were rescued after their helicopter went down in water by Davis Islands. Full story here: https://t.co/mRZfmZqTGs pic.twitter.com/9C9VWqTfqs
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 30, 2022
Tampa police will be holding a press conference Friday at One Buc Place, alongside Blaine Gabbert. There, they will release body camera footage of the rescue.