Hero deputy rescues wheelchair-bound grandfather who fell into shark-infested waterway

At 72, Bill Von Herbulis doesn’t let life in a wheelchair keep him from fishing and working his crab traps daily at the marina near his Florida home.But on Sept.27, it was Von Herbulis who became the catch of the day.Now Sgt.

William Leven is set to receive a Lifesaving Award for jumping into the shark-filled water at feeding time and hoisting him over sharp oyster shells and barnacle-encrusted dock pylons to safety.Bill Von Herbulis fishes at the dock near his home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.(Courtesy of Lori Von Herbulis)CRUISE PASSENGER HAILED AS HERO AFTER JUMPING INTO WATER TO SAVE 84-YEAR-OLD MANThe Volusia County Sheriff’s Office posted a video of the rescue the next day on Facebook, praising their quick-acting sergeant.And as for fishing, Von Herbulis said, "I was back the next day.""He doesn’t miss," his wife, Lori Von Herbulis, laughed.As he does every day, Von Herbulis set out for the marina in his condominium community in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.He motored along in his electric wheelchair, pulling beside him a wagon stuffed with fishing and crabbing gear.

He toted his equipment to a narrow private dock near Ponce de Leon Inlet, which sits at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.His wife of 41 years had gone out for the evening.But he usually fishes solo anyway.At the dock, he pushed the cart with his fishing poles and tackle box ahead of his wheelchair, out past the boat slips to his favorite fishing spot.An aerial view of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

(iStock)It wasn’t a memorable evening of fishing.And as the sun dipped, he packed his gear to go back home.For his safety, the former water treatment plant operator isn’t supposed to be on the dock after dark.And on this night, the dock was unusually vacant.

Normally, other anglers would be casting their lines, and people would be strolling, admiring the sunset, he said.But this night, he was all alone with the lapping waves and rising tide.BEACH HERO JUMPS INTO THE WATER AFTER SPOTTING 3 GIRLS IN DAN...