A couple in Florida frantically trying to flee Hurricane Irma were so frazzled by the experience that they ended up driving into a hotel pool.
Theodore and Gloria Karadimos of Punta Gorda, Florida were attempting to escape the Category 5 hurricane, driving north to Atlanta to stay clear from the storm.
But as they entered the the Best Western parking lot in Acworth, Georgia, where they were staying for the weekend, they ran into a little bit of a mishap.
A Couple from Punta Gorda, Florida drove their car into hotel swimming pool in Georgia
heodore and Gloria Karadimos were headed north to escape Hurricane Irma and rented a hotel over the weekend
As they arrived at their hotel and were getting to park, Theodore Karadimos accidentally stepped on the gas
While trying to park the family car, Theodore Karadimos accidentally stepped on the gas instead of hitting the break inside the vehicle, sending him and his wife headfirst into the hotel swimming pool.
‘This couple was obviously fleeing from the storm and stressed from that,’ Police Chief Wayne Dennard told Channel 2 Action News, adding that the couple feared for their life due to their inability to swim.
Dennard also said the couple was concerned for their two dogs, who had been inside the vehicle as well.
Luckily for the husband and wife, and their beloved animals, guests at the hotel came to the rescue and fished the family out of the pool.
Sgt. Tamara Clayton reported that Theodore Karadimos’ foot had accidentally slipped off the break.
While his wife Gloria was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure, Sgt. Clayton assisted Theodore in getting a rental car, replacing the couple’s medicine and dealing with the insurance company.
Luckily for the couple, hotel guests came to the couple and their two dogs who were still in the car
Theodore and Gloria Karadimos were so grateful for the police department’s assistance, they treated the officers on shift to two separate meals
They were also so touched by the community’s kindness, they say they might move to Acworth
‘She quickly realized he was not in a mental state to do that so she went the extra 1 percent to help do that for this couple,’ Dennard said.
As a sign of appreciation, Theodore and Gloria Karadimos treated the department by feeding members of the shift twice.
The couple told Action News that they’re house in Punta Gorda suffered some exterior damage sue to the store, but almost everything inside remained intact.
They said, however, that they are considering moving to Acworth now seeing as how supportive everyone in the community treated them over their stressful weekend.
‘We really are seriously thinking about moving up there because we feel they are part of our family from now on,’ Theodore Karadimos said.