Teen who rescued daughter from Patchogue Bay 'real hero of the day,' says father of 18-year-old who drove SUV into bay

Eighteen-year-old Mia Samolinski had driven to the dock near Shorefront Park in Patchogue on Tuesday night to drink a coffee and unwind from her job at King Kullen when, her father said, she mistakenly hit the gas pedal instead of the brake while parking — and suddenly found herself trapped, her 2012 Subaru Outback sinking into Patchogue Bay.

But, tragedy was averted when a quick-thinking Good Samaritan, identified by Suffolk County police as Anthony Zhongor, 17, of Patchogue, jumped into the water and rescued Samolinski from the submerged Subaru.

Zhongor lives around the corner, and played running back on the Patchogue-Medford High football team, according to MaxPreps.com, which tracks high school sports. In an interview, he said he was parked and listening to music nearby just before the teen drove into the water.

“All I hear is a huge, like, splash. It’s huge. And then I see everybody started running. I get curious as well, and I start running with them,” he recalled.

He added: “Nobody’s doing anything, so I stepped back for a second, I think about it, and I just jump in, get the girl out.”

The ordeal began in the parking lot at the "L dock," as it is known, about 10:10 p.m.

Family members said Wednesday that Mia Samolinski still was "too shaken" to talk.

Her father, Charlie Samolinski, a Nassau police officer and longtime member of the Patchogue Fire Department, said Wednesday: "It's been a rough night — and, quite a rough morning. But, I can't complain. My daughter's here, alive, walking, talking. The car's replaceable. She is not … And that 17-year-old, he's the real hero of the day. To jump right in like that? I couldn't even put into words what I feel."

Zhongor and the teen driver’s father met Wednesday for the first time.

“It felt nice to see that she’s OK, knowing that she’s going to be ok, that they don’t really care about the car, because yesterday, it seemed like she was more worried about the car than her life, so seeing that her parents don’t really care about materialistic stuff, which is her car, feels good,” Zhongor said.

Samolinski and his wife, Melissa, have three children, Mia being the eldest. Samolinski said that due to COVID-19, Mia had only gotten her license "a few months ago."

"She drives down to the dock sometimes, just to relax after work," he said. "She was going to sit by the water, have her coffee. She said as she was pulling into the spot her foot slipped off the brake, hit the gas — and she went right in."

Fire, police and medical personnel at the scene told Samolinski that Zhongor, who was at the pier fishing with friends, "immediately" jumped in to rescue Mia.

The SUV was submerged in 7 to 8 feet of water, officials said.

"She actually got out of her seat belt and was trying to get out," Samolinski said. "But with the windows rolled up the water pressure kept her from opening the door. According to my daughter, she managed to get into the back seat and she pushed on the door while this kid pulled on it — and, together, they managed to get it open."

Patchogue Fire Department Chief Dave Tierney said it all happened so fast that Mia was already out of the water when his two dozen firefighters got to the scene just minutes after getting the 911 call. Tierney has known Charlie Samolinski more than 20 years — and has known Mia Samolinski since she was born.

"I honestly wouldn't know what to say to the Good Samaritan," Tierney said. "We always say, 'leave these things to the professionals.' I mean, I wouldn't recommend just anyone doing this … But, if he wants to join the fire department, I wish he'd come see us."

The Subaru is a total loss, Charlie Samolinski said, and he's already got an appointment with the insurance adjuster. He also said he couldn't care less.

"I came straight from work," he said, "and I get there and she was an emotional wreck. She's a teen and she doesn't have that life experience yet. She was like, 'Oh, my God. I just wrecked the family car.' She hugged me, said: 'I love you.' I said, 'Don't worry, this can all be fixed. That you're OK is the most important thing.'

"To me, I'm just thankful this kid was there," Samolinski said, "because I understood it could've gone another way altogether. We don't really hear or see these things enough, but there really isn't anything to say other than he's something special."

With Steve Pfost and Joan Gralla