NFL star Blaine Gabbert is being hailed a hero after jumping off his jet ski to help save the lives of four victims of a helicopter crash.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star, who is Tom Brady 's backup, reportedly assisted Hunter Hupp, 28, his 62-year-old father, 59-year-old mother and the pilot, a 33-year-old man. The quartet were finishing a helicopter tour when they had to make an emergency landing about 200 yards from Davis Island just after 5pm on Thursday.
The Tampa Police department updated people on Twitter, posting "NEWS ALERT | #YourTampaPD responded to the area of the Peter O. Knight Airport - Davis Islands regarding a report of a helicopter submerged in the water. On arrival, officers found a helicopter in the water, approximately 200 yards from shore."
Fox Sports reporter Greg Gauman responded to the post with: "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."
After making it safely to the Peter O. Knight Airport terminal, Hupp told the Tampa Bay Times : “I am pretty astonished that I am standing here to talk to you,” he said.
The newspaper also reported: "Among the bystanders who helped rescue the family from the water was Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who was on a personal watercraft at the time."
Hupp revealed he struggled to get out of the helicopter, and was under water for between 45 seconds and a minute. The Police Department have since released a statement saying they were: "currently coordinating with local and federal agencies regarding the investigation and eventual recovery of the helicopter.”
Gabbert, 33, was on the backup roster for the Bucs when they won Super Bowl LV in 2021, serving as understudy to Brady. He's been at the franchise since 2019, after joining from Tennessee Titans.
He's also previously represented the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals. His 2022/23 season role with the Bucs has again been limited by Brady's decision to reverse retirement.
