A cab driver whose car plunged into a City Park lagoon was rescued by firefighters after spending nearly 10 minutes in the water inside of his car.

Police said the cab driver apparently fell asleep and his cab traveled through the grass and into the lagoon around 5 p.m.

New Orleans Fire Engine Unit 18 arrived on the scene and once they were told that someone was inside the car in the lagoon, Captain Joe Fincher and two of his men dove into the water.

Fincher said when he got to the car, all the doors were locked and yelled to his men to get an axe and then he knocked on the window. He said the driver must have been conscious because he opened the door.

After a struggle to get the driver out of his seatbelt, he floated out of the cab and to the surface. He was brought to the grassy area where emergency procedures were used.

The cab driver, Steve Bertuci, was taken to Tulane Hospital.  Friends of Bertuci said that is okay.  The firefighters that helped with rescue were Jerry Magee, Adam Woodruff, Tim Hughes and Glenn Baggert.