Ballwin native, former Mizzou QB Gabbert aids in jet ski rescue from Tampa helicopter crash

TAMPA, Fla. (KCTV/KMOV) – One of many first individuals to help within the rescue efforts of a helicopter crash Thursday night in Tampa, Florida, was Ballwin native and former Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Based on the Tampa Bay Occasions, 4 individuals had been ending up a helicopter tour simply off the Davis Islands on Thursday night time after they needed to make an emergency touchdown simply after 5 p.m. After his 62-year-old father, 59-year-old mom and a 33-year-old male pilot escaped the sinking helicopter, Hunter Hupp, 28, stated he was capable of free himself from beneath the water.

Hupp stated he was beneath the water for between 45 seconds and a minute. As soon as he emerged from the water roughly 200 yards from shore, Gabbert and one other man approached on jet skis. The previous Tiger quarterback was capable of assist the household out of the water and onto the jet skis earlier than Tampa Police arrived by boat.

“They slowly introduced us again to the shore, a sandy seashore close to the yacht membership, and frolicked for some time, had been very nice,” Hupp advised Fox Sports activities. “We exchanged pleasantries upon reaching flat floor. They had been actually an asset to serving to us out, as a result of we had been the one ones on the market for some time. It was a handshake and an enormous ‘Thanks a lot.’ They went out for a pleasant afternoon experience and simply occurred to return upon a stranded helicopter household.”

Gabbert, who now serves because the backup quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has a house on Davis Islands in an space the place quite a few Tampa Bay professional athletes reside, together with Tom Brady.

“My mother stated she hoped to fulfill Tom Brady whereas we had been down right here,” Hupp, who’s from Philadelphia, advised Fox Sports activities. “I believe she got here fairly darn shut.”

Copyright 2022 KMOV. All rights reserved.