WINDHAM (WGME) — A two-year-old girl strapped in a car seat inside a car sinking into a pond was saved Thursday in dramatic fashion in Windham

The rescue happened Thursday afternoon Pettingil Pond in the area of Shore Road in Windham after the car, with its engine running and parking break on, rolled into the pond.

A witness to rescue, Peggy Kramer, said she heard a loud noise and watched as the car rolled in.

“I said ‘Wait a minute. It’s coming down the hill and it went right into the water,” Kramer said.

Police said the car’s owner was outside his car when it began to roll with his granddaughter in her car seat in the back seat.

“The car went down and it was sinking and sinking,” said Kramer, who was watching the situation unfold with a friend. from across the pond.

“We did see somebody jump into the water for the rescue, for the person that had gone into the water,” she said. “It was apparent that they had to get their quickly, as fast as they could. We just sat there in horror wondering what was happening. And then more people started to come to help.”

The grandfather and a neighbor went in after the girl, diving down about 20 feet to open the car door, unbuckle the girl and pulling her to safety.

“Long enough to kind of say to yourself, this could be worse than it is,” Kramer said.

Police said the girl was not injured. The grandfather was visibly shaken today, too upset to comment on the dramatic rescue.

Friday morning, a dive team helped remove the car from the pond.

Windham Police said no criminal charges are likely due to the accidental nature of the incident.

“They got her out and that was all that we were happy for, is that she survived,” Kramer said.