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<\/p>\nBROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) \u2014 A hero FDNY firefighter saved a Queens principal from drowning when torrential rain flooded streets across New York City on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was going to drown. I thought I was going to die,\u201d Carmen Pinto said Friday while holding back tears.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FDNY Firefighter Travis Langan saved a Queens principal from her flooded car during a rainstorm in NYC. (Credit: FDNY)<\/p>\n
Firefighter Travis Langan was driving home when he saw Pinto\u2019s car submerged in chest-high flood waters near the Jackie Robinson Parkway and Grand Central Parkway in Queens.<\/p>\n
The off-duty firefighter sprang into action and punched a hole in the roof of Pinto\u2019s Tesla before pulling her out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it were my family, I hope someone would do the same. I was hoping to God no children were in the back seat,\u201d Langan said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0More Local News\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Pinto and Langan shared a warm embrace when they were happily reunited on Friday. Even though the trauma is still fresh, Pinto and her family thanked the six-year FDNY veteran for his bravery.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud Spider-Man is from Queens, but we have a real superhero in town. Thank you, Travis, for saving my life,\u201d Pinto said.<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani lauded Langan for his courage and selflessness, calling it ordinary for the FDNY.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of his bravery, Ms. Pinto will sit down to dinner this evening,\u201d the mayor said.<\/p>\n Mira Wassef is an award-winning reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined the PIX11 News digital team in 2022. See more of her work here.<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n