A routine drive through downtown Huntsville turned into a life-saving moment Friday when a passerby spotted an elderly man in distress and pulled him from the water at Big Spring Park.

According to local reports, John Roberts, a utility locator with LineQuest, was driving through the downtown area when he noticed an older man near the water’s edge.

“As I was driving down Church Street, I saw an older man. He was walking, and he was getting close to the water, and he kind of caught my eye and attention,” Roberts said.

Roberts said he initially could not stop but turned around to check on the man. By the time he returned, the situation had escalated.

“He fell, and it was on to the races from there, so I sprinted over there, and he was in the water, and he was screaming, asking for help,” Roberts said.

Realizing he could reach the man more quickly from the opposite side, Roberts ran across a nearby bridge before pulling the man from the creek.

“He made a step and fell into the water, splash, and it was just let’s get him out of the water from there,” Roberts said.

The water was above chest level, but Roberts was able to pull the man to safety as first responders arrived on the scene. The man was conscious and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Roberts said the moment came down to paying attention and acting quickly.

“Mistakes happen, accidents happen, and you need an arm or a shoulder to lean on sometimes, and I’m just grateful, I’m glad that I could be that person,” he said.

He added that the rescue took only a few minutes out of his day.

“If it happened to me, I’d hope someone like me would help me that day,” Roberts said.

What started as an ordinary drive ended with a reminder of how quickly a moment — and someone paying attention — can make all the difference.

Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.