ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A man’s van plunged into Little Lehigh Creek and began filling up with rushing water. Tonight, that man spoke exclusively with 69 News.

Tom Crawford, 87, was on his way home to pick up his wife of 40 years, when he lost control of his van and ended up in the water.

Thanks to first responders, he walked away.

Tom and his wife, Susan, have something to be really thankful for this Thanksgiving.

“Hits the creek and goes like this and I’m thinking ‘Oh my God, I’m gonna drown,” Tom laughs as he tells 69 News reporter Rick Holmes.

The fact that Tom and his wife Susan are together to stroll through the Allentown Farmers Market is a small miracle. Just four hours earlier, he was coming home from making a delivery when he lost control of his van.

“No brakes! What am I gonna do? If I go left, it shoots me out across MLK Blvd,” Tom says.

Tom went right down an embankment and into Little Lehigh Creek. He struggled as water began coming up over his driver’s side.

“And I thought, ‘I’ll crawl out the window.’ Well, I’m 87 years old how am I going to pull myself out the window?” Tom says.

Just a few miles away, Susan was waiting for her husband to pick her up to go to the Allentown Farmers Market.

“And he’s not showing up. Because he had a little errand, and I was getting very aggravated. Tried to call him,” Suzan recalls.

Tom decided to escape through the passenger-side door. By the time he got out, police and fire told him to stay where he was, and they rescued him.

“You’re racing home so we could get over here to get our turkey, for Thanksgiving, and the next minute, you’re in a creek up to your chest in water,” Tom says. “My car is upside down in the creek. And I’m like, ‘Really?’ I didn’t believe it.”

Tom got away with no injuries. Not even a trip to the hospital. And it’s a story they’ll be telling at the Thanksgiving table for years to come.

“Thankful that my husband got home. In one piece,” Suzan says.

“I’m thankful I’m here. Basically, really, absolutely,” Tom adds.

And they got down to the Farmers Market.

They got their turkey, a 10-pounder, which they will share with their 3 kids, 7 grandchildren, and their great grandson.