Hunter Hupp said his mom, Lisa, was hoping to meet Tom Brady during a family trip to Tampa. She met the next quarterback up, and certainly not in the way she would have expected.
Hupp and his family were taking a helicopter tour around Davis Islands as a Christmas gift Thursday night when the rotor began to have issues. The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in the water. Not long after Hupp, his parents and the pilot had escaped the sinking helicopter to reach the surface, three men on a pair of jet skis arrived.
The driver of one of those jet skis? Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert. He and his two brothers helped transport the four to shore.
"It was a pretty crappy situation that turned good in the end," Gabbert said on Friday. "I was just right place, right time, I guess. The credit really goes out to the Tampa PD, you guys, the fire department, the sheriff's department because they were there within five seconds. It was pretty remarkable."
After a helicopter crashed into the bay yesterday, @BlaineGabbert and his brothers, who were on jet skis, were instrumental in the rescue. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sg2pD1MM4Q
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 30, 2022
NFL WEEK 17 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the helicopter Hupp and his parents were on experienced engine failure. Hupp said he was caught in the helicopter as it was sinking, saying that he began to give up before one final effort freed himself. In total, he said he was stuck between 45 seconds and a minute.
"I am pretty astonished that I am standing here to talk to you," Hupp said, per the Times.
Once Hupp reached the surface, he said it didn't take long until the jet skis of Gabbert and his brothers approached.
Gabbert explained his brothers Tyler and Brett had just arrived in town to his home on Davis Island, and that with the nice weather, they wanted to see the nearby yacht club and the area. Gabbert said when he looked west, he saw what looked like a crew boat in the water that appeared to be broken in four.
MORE: Tom Brady to Raiders?
As Gabbert approached the boat, he noticed two yellow life jackets and knew they needed to go investigate it. He said he called 911 and tried to remain calm during the situation.
Gabbert explained that he was able to get two of the group on his jet ski and his brothers managed only one more, but that police showed up quick and were able to pick up the pilot.
"They slowly brought us back to the shore, a sandy beach near the yacht club, and hung out for a while, were really nice," Hupp said, per Fox Sports. "We exchanged pleasantries upon reaching flat ground. They were really an asset to helping us out, because we were the only ones out there for a while. It was a handshake and a hug and, 'Thank you so much.' They went out for a nice afternoon ride and just happened to come upon a stranded helicopter family."
According to Fox Sports, Gabbert received a ceremonial "unit coin" from the Tampa PD's marine unit and earned a hat deeming him an "honorary member" of the department for helping save the group.
"My mom said she was hoping to meet Tom Brady while we were down here," Hupp said, according to Fox Sports. "I think she came pretty darn close."
