Victim of Lake Superior Water Rescue in Critical Condition

DULUTH, Minn. - A Superior school teacher is alive thanks to quick action from Duluth firefighters."There's limited time especially in the winter now with the cold water,” explained Duluth Fire Department’s Assistant Chief Chris Martinson. “Time is of the essence, obviously.” Every year, 400 Americans die in vehicles stuck under water, but a Twin Ports man is lucky to be alive after his car went off the road and into the icy water early Saturday morning. It's been three days since Matthew Amerson was pulled from Lake Superior.At 2:18 a.m. Saturday, crews got the call Amerson's car slid off Helberg Drive near Port Terminal into the slip.  From the time Amerson made his own 911 call to rescue squads pulling him from his mostly submerged car, it only took a mere seven minutes."Which is very fast,” explained Asst. Chief Martinson, “and very lucky for that individual." The Duluth Fire Department says this University of Wisconsin-Superior graduate and current second grade teacher at Northern Lights Elementary in Superior was unresponsive when pulled out. Officials say a few more seconds under water could have ended his life."If he breaks through now we don't have visual on the car so that just adds to another level of problems for us," said Martinson, speaking to the difficulty of the rescue. When it comes to a sinking car rescue, crews say the biggest tip they can give is to hold off on calling 911 and try your best to make your way out as fast as possible."Stay calm and think about what's going on,” Martinson said. “Get that window down whether it's by the car's power, or roll up, or if you have to break it." After Saturday’s accident, fire crews are looking at new ways of keeping people safe and they’ve found that a small tool might mean the difference between life and death. "They make little rescue seatbelt cutters and a little hammer built into one little device,” said Martinson, explaining the tool. “I would recommend keeping one of those handy." As we get deeper into the winter season, first responders say calls like Saturdays become more common, but don't always end with a survivor. Principal Robyn Deshayes of Northern Lights Elementary sent a written statement to FOX 21 saying, "Staff and students are supporting Mr. Amerson and his family with cards, drawings, gifts cards, videos and a lot of love. Mr. Amerson is very well-liked and respected by staff and adored by his students. He is a strong and determined young man and we know he will be back in the classroom the minute he is able." Amerson remains in critical condition at St. Mary's hospital.According to his CaringBridge site Monday, doctors removed his breathing tube and he was talking. His family declined to comment asking for privacy during this difficult time.