A pregnant Florida woman who was pulled from a sinking car after a highway crash gave birth to a healthy baby girl just hours later in what her family and rescuers are calling a remarkable chain of events.
Shedly Apollon, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, survived the terrifying ordeal after her vehicle plunged into a pond along Interstate 95 West near Stuart while she was on her way to a prenatal appointment.
Crash and desperate moments
According to authorities and local reports, Apollon began feeling faint while driving, causing her to lose control of her vehicle. The car veered off the roadway and crashed into a nearby pond, rapidly filling with water.
“I was banging on the window like, ‘Someone save me,’ because normal people — they just drive by and record instead of assist,” Apollon said in recounting the incident.
As the vehicle began to sink, both front doors became submerged, leaving her trapped inside.
Passerby becomes hero
Logan Hayes, who was driving nearby at the time, noticed the crash and immediately stopped to help. Without hesitation, he ran toward the pond and swam roughly 30 feet to reach the sinking car.
“I swam up to the car. The back passenger door was the only door that was still enough above water,” Hayes recalled.
He managed to open the door and pull Apollon to safety just before the vehicle fully submerged.
Emergency responders from Martin County Fire & Rescue and a dive team arrived shortly afterward to secure the scene and ensure Apollon received immediate medical attention.
Authorities later confirmed that Hayes’ swift action prevented the situation from becoming fatal.
“I was just kind of dumbfounded, to be honest,” Hayes said. “I couldn’t believe that at that exact moment I happened to be driving by.”
Emergency delivery hours later
Apollon was rushed to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center, where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section due to her condition.
Her daughter, Ivory Sully, was born at 33 weeks and was reported healthy despite the traumatic circumstances.
Apollon described holding her newborn for the first time as “surreal.”
The day carried even greater emotional significance, as the incident occurred on Apollon’s 29th birthday — meaning she now shares the date with her daughter.
She said the coincidence created a bond between them “tighter than ever.”
Family calls survival miraculous
Apollon’s fiancé, Woodly Sully, described the outcome as extraordinary.
“She came out with no scratches, and the only way I can explain this is — that’s God,” he said.
Following the birth, Apollon expressed her gratitude by FaceTiming Hayes to thank him personally and introduce him to her newborn daughter.
A story of quick action and resilience
Officials say the incident underscores the importance of rapid intervention in emergencies and praised Hayes for his bravery.
For Apollon and her family, the dramatic rescue and safe delivery have transformed what began as a life-threatening accident into a story of survival, compassion, and new beginnings.
