A couple from Florida who fled to metro Atlanta to escape Hurricane Irma accidentally drove into a Cobb County hotel pool.
Theodore and Gloria Karadimos of Punta Gorda, Fla., were staying at the Best Western in Acworth over the weekend as the storm pummeled their home state, Channel 2 Action News reported.
While they were trying to pull into the parking space outside their hotel room, Theodore Karadimos accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake, sending the car flying into the hotel swimming pool.
Chief Wayne Dennard told the news station the couple was terrified they would die in the car because neither one could swim. They also had two dogs in the car.
“This couple was obviously fleeing from the storm and stressed from that, Dennard told Channel 2.
Hotel guests quickly jumped in and pulled the couple and their two dogs out of the car.
Theodore Karadimos told Sgt. Tamara Clayton that his foot slipped off the brake.
As his wife was taken to a hospital, Clayton helped Theodore deal with getting a rental car, calling insurance, replacing medicine and then checking on Gloria Karadimos.
“She quickly realized he was not in a mental state to do that so she went the extra 1 percent to help do that for this couple,” Dennard said.
The couple showed their appreciation to the department by feeding members of the shift twice.
Gloria Karadimos said all the officers were outstanding. “I can’t give them enough praise,” she said.
Their couple’s home in Florida has some exterior damage, they told Channel 2, but is OK on the inside.
But because of how well the community treated them, they are now considering moving to Acworth.
"We really are seriously thinking about moving up there because we feel they are part of our family from now on," Theodore Karadimos said.
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