Mr. Donald Astwood had not insisted on climbing aboard a Marine Police boat to see if he was breathing.

The 59-year-old man had just plunged into the sea in a car off the dock at the western end of Watford Bridge while watching a sailboat race on Monday. He remains in hospital in stable condition.

Another man in the car managed to get out of the water by himself and escape injury.

But the Sandys man remained underwater, prompting two boaters to jump in and rescue him.

While Marine Police were taking him to the nearest dock to await an ambulance, Mr. Astwood, who was off duty, went over to see if he could assist.

"I was in my boat about 75 yards away from where it all happened,'' he said.

"I noticed the car revving up, and then to my amazement it plunged into the ocean and I saw one of the men's heads bang forward.'' When the man was safely on the Police boat, Mr. Astwood went over and asked the officers if he was breathing.

"I had a feeling he wasn't,'' said Mr. Astwood, estimating the man had been underwater for about three minutes, and unattended for four more minutes.

When Mr. Astwood looked at the man, he noticed he was "blue in the face''. He pressed his stomach to expel the water in his lungs and gave him oxygen from a medical device on board until the ambulance arrived.

The last time he was off duty on a public holiday, Mr. Astwood said he helped save a child from drowning at Darrell's Wharf.

"I always seem to be around when something happens,'' he noted.

"A lot of people are willing to assist those in trouble but panic and are unable to deal with the situation. I have to deal with life and death situations every day. The experience does come in handy.'' HOLIDAY HERO -- Emergency medical techician Mr. Donald Astwood helped save a Sandys Parish man's life last Monday, the Queen's Birthday holiday (see story left). The man had plunged overboard in a car and it is estimated he was underwater for about three minutes.