Former 49ers QB Blaine Gabbert saved helicopter crash victims on jet ski
Dec 31, 2022, 10:00 AM
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 04: Blaine Gabbert #2 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Former Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert and his brother were first responders on a jet ski to a helicopter crash in the water near his home in Florida.
Hunter Hupp and his parents had made an hour helicopter flight to Davis Island, one of the beaches on the coast as a Christmas gift before the rotor malfunctioned, causing a crash landing in the water around 200 yards from shore, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman first reported.
Former 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert was instrumental in saving someone's life yesterday pic.twitter.com/LyjIIkdeAA
— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) December 30, 2022
“Let me tell you, helicopters sink really fast,” Hupp said in the Fox Sports story Friday morning.
“We learned that rather quickly.”
Hupp’s parents were able to make it out of the helicopter, but Hunter was reportedly unable to free himself for around a minute before escaping to the surface.
As the group decided whether to wait for help or swim toward land, two jet skis approached the wreckage.
One of the drivers was reportedly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, who lives on Davis Island, where many Tampa professional athletes live. The family had no idea that one of their rescuers was an NFL quarterback.
“My mom said she was hoping to meet Tom Brady while we were down here,” he said.
“I think she came pretty darn close.”
Gabbert has been the backup quarterback for the Buccaneers for the past four seasons after spending one season in Arizona in 2017 and three years in San Francisco.
This story was first published by Sactown Sports‘ sister station, Arizona Sports.
