Rescued man thanks police, firefighters

LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. - A Palm Beach County man took time out Friday to publicly thank several first responders.

Matthew Gerbing's truck rolled into a canal in November.

An off-duty West Palm Beach police officer noticed the vehicle in the water near Okeechobee Boulevard with its lights on.

The officer and responding Palm Beach County firefighters saved his life.

"I was just heading home from a friend's house and it was late. Passed out at the wheel and fortunately I made it out good and the officer and the fire department did a really good job," Gerbing said.   
 
"I am just very grateful that it turned out the way it did, because he is still here and if I didn't come home and get held over late, who knows what would have happened," said West Palm Beach Police Officer Jacob Eick.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said it was sheer teamwork that helped save Gerbing's life.