Florida

Girl Who Survived Crash Into Deerfield Beach Canal Released From Hospital

A 3-year-old girl who survived a crash in a Deerfield Beach that claimed her mother's life just before Christmas was released from the hospital Wednesday.

Aubrey Skye Herndon nearly drowned when her family's car crashed into a canal off Interstate 95 near Southwest 10th Street on Dec. 23.

Florida Highway Patrol officials said the car crashed through a chain link fence and flipped into the water, ending up on its roof. The girl's father, 42-year-old Christopher Ian Herndon, was able to get out of the car unharmed but it took several passers-by and an off-duty officer to rescue the girl and her mother, 42-year-old Cynthia Jayne Hutchinson.

Aubrey and Hutchinson were rushed to the hospital, but Hutchinson later died.

Doctors say Herndon was under water for 4-5 minutes. She spent 10 days at the hospital recovering.

"We feel that it was a real Christmas miracle. She didn't have much hope and you can see now. And I feel like her mom had something to do with it, definitely, and I too want to thank all of you that helped in this rescue because it was a miracle," grandmother Vicky Hutchinson said.

On Wednesday, she was escorted to her home by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue members, who gave her gifts to show their support.

"We've been talking about it since that day, it's unbelievable, all of us together just can't believe that she's here, let alone doing as well as she has been, we've never seen anything like it before," BSFR Lt. Jarod Jaubert said.

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