A man changing a tire on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge fell 30 feet into the water and had to be rescued Sunday night, authorities said.
Reginald D. White, 43, of Bradenton was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with minor injuries after being pulled from the water by Florida Fish and Wildlife officers, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was scheduled to be discharged Monday.
White was driving a 2004 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle north at mile marker 9 around 9:20 p.m. when the right rear tire blew.
"That’s when all the traffic was coming, they were just going full speed, like the semi truck was just coming directly at us," said Reggie White.
He stopped on the inside lane and was changing the tire when he lost his balance and fell backward over the Jersey barrier, troopers said.
"I knew I was falling," said Reggie White.
His wife, Jessica White, 28, and another family member, Desirae White, 24, of St. Petersburg, were also in the SUV and were not injured.
"Screaming and crying I just didn’t want to lose him," said Jessica White.
The accident happened on the Manatee/Hillsborough counties side of the bridge, before it begins to ascend to 191 feet over Tampa Bay.
Jessica Purcell called 911 and stopped to help the family.
"She was just like 'I’m not gonna let your husband die. If he gets too weak I’m going to jump in,'" Jessica White said.
Reggie White treaded water for 35 minutes, fighting a strong current, until rescuers arrived.
"When I was going down I kept hearing my wife's voice saying hold on, hold on baby. That’s what made me really just fight," he said.
White suffered some cuts and scrapes from the barnacles in the water.