Heroism amid tragedy

A car crash into a nearby Hernando Beach canal took away her father and grandmother, Al and Diane Harless, but Stepheny O'Brien said that it also provided a miracle — and showed her how kind strangers can be in the face of tragedy.

That miracle, she said, is Jared Sullivan of Spring Hill, who jumped into the canal and saved the life of Al's 6-year-old son Alex Nadau, who was in the backseat of the vehicle when it plunged into the canal the night of Jan. 11.

O'Brien and her cousin, Amber Branch, said if not for Sullivan, Alex surely would have died that night.

"Thank God. He not only grabbed Alex and pulled him out of there, but he jumped back down in the water" and pulled out Al Harless, Branch said. "As sad as it is that my uncle and grandmother died, one couldn't have lived without the other. They were in poor health."

Sullivan "did what he was meant to do, which was save Alex," Branch said.

On that Tuesday night, Al and Diane Harless were traveling north on Shoal Line Road when they lost control of their vehicle after their boat trailer struck a tree.

The trailer eventually came unhitched and their 2003 Pontiac Aztek then plummeted into the canal. In the backseat was Alex.

The vehicle came to rest on its hood in the water. The driver and both passengers were trapped.

A nearby driver, Melissa Reed, was traveling with her fiancé, Sullivan, when she saw the Aztek go into the water. Reed made a U-turn and went to where the vehicle had dropped off.

Sullivan, who was calling 911, jumped into the chest-deep water and approached the car. That's when he heard Alex cry for help.

"I had my phone in my hand still and was using that as a light and then the little boy … I heard him saying, 'help me,' " Sullivan said Tuesday. "My heart just dropped. I tried to punch through the window, but it wouldn't break, so I kneed it until it did."

Grabbing the boy, Sullivan carried him to the bank, where Reed took him and asked who else was in the car. Alex told them that his father and grandmother were still inside.

Sullivan, already wet and weary, went back into the water to try to save Al and Diane Harless.

By the time help arrived, Sullivan had already gotten Al Harless, 56, out of the vehicle. Diane, 72, was still inside.

Al Harless was taken to Oak Hill Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Diane was taken to Brooksville Regional Hospital and later transferred to Bayonet Point Hospital. She died 48 hours later.

After the accident, Branch said, the Harlesses' neighbors and many throughout the community have come forward to help the family — going out of their way to provide just about anything the family needs, Branch said. They're also helping to organize a fundraiser to help the family with funeral expenses.

The fundraiser, which takes place at 6:30 tonight at The Upper Deck, 5386 Darlene St. in Weeki Wachee, will include a 50/50 drawing and silent auction of various items pulled from area businesses.

"I have just been amazed. Where I come from, no one helps you unless they're your family," Branch said. "We're just so, so grateful. There are just so many people to thank for having pulled together to help us."

Sullivan said he and Reed will also be in attendance. After the accident, Branch and O'Brien visited Sullivan to thank him and hear from him what happened the night of the accident.

However, this will be the first time he will see Alex.

"What do you say to someone who has been through something like this?" Sullivan asked. "I lost my father when I was young — watched him die of a heart attack. I know how hard that can be on a kid. I guess I'd say just keep staying strong."