It started with persistent glaring lights in a pouring rainstorm and ended with split-second reactions that prevented a near-tragic accidental death. A few minutes after 9 p.m. on Aug. 23, Robert Heaton was sitting with an out-of-town wedding party under an outdoor weather cover at Islander 71 restaurant next to Isle of Palms Marina, trying to keep plates and cups from blowing away.
“And through the rain about 150 feet away I saw a vehicle on the boat ramp and I couldn’t take my eyes off the headlights as it was heading straight for the water,” said Heaton, a native of Sandy Springs near Columbia. “It blew my mind because I didn’t see any brake lights or a boat – and when it hit the water, I just stood up, threw everything out of my pockets and took off for the ramp.”
In what seemed like an instant, Heaton too was in the water, swimming toward the vehicle, then trying to open the door against increasing water pressure and attempting to pull driver Peter Giusti to safety from an Uber.
“The water was already up to his waist and he took off his seatbelt as the vehicle continued to sink and the whole time I was praying,” Heaton said. “To my surprise, my friend Brandon Blackwell from the wedding group had followed me to the ramp and he helped me get Mr. Giusti to safety.”
It all happened in about 90 seconds and took both rescuers a moment to realize how their quick reactions had narrowly averted a terrible misfortune.
“At that point it was raining the hardest – the water was almost at the level of the pier,” said Blackwell, who was visiting from West Ashley. “It took a few seconds to process.”
The IOP police and fire departments responded to the scene to find Giusti and his rescuers OK and breathing sighs of relief. “The driver claimed he could not see the roadway surface due to severe weather and it being dark – he mistook the water for the roadway,” said IOPPD Sgt. Matt Storen. “We are extremely grateful to the two men who acted quickly and heroically to save a life in need.”
It is the second time this year that a near-tragic accident at the IOP Marina was avoided by fast thinking and acting. In September 2024, a couple visiting from the Chicago area plunged into the marina after driving their vehicle off the same ramp. Only the timely presence and actions of three late-working employees at Islander 71 saved them.
IOPPD Chief Kevin Cornett said the incidents underscore the dangers of driving during severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and flooding, particularly at night. “Water can quickly obscure where the roadway ends and make it difficult to gauge depths.”
IOP Mayor Phillip Pounds said that going forward, changes are being considered at the marina to avoid other similar incidents. “Discussions about any additional safety measures are ongoing, including our public safety staff.
While we will never be able to alleviate every potential issue, I have complete trust in our staff to make any changes they deem necessary. Our city council would only need to get involved if there was an expenditure of any significance involved in any changes.”
As for Heaton and Blackwell, both were formally recognized at the IOP City Council meeting in September. Heaton even went one step further by setting up a GoFundMe account at ‘Get Peter Giusti Back on the Road’ to help him with the $2,500 vehicle insurance deductible, as the vehicle was a total loss.
When asked what part of the experience stands out most to him, Heaton said far and away that while he is grateful to have been in the right place at the right time, the nearness of the tragedy is still something he thinks about since “I really shouldn’t have been there at all. Divine intervention is all I can put it down to and I’m just glad the incident turned out OK the way it did. It could have been way worse.”
For residents and visitors alike, IOP police recommended being extra careful when driving at the IOP Marina, especially since water levels are often 11-13 feet deep.
By L. C. Leach III
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