COMOX, B.C. - A B.C. Mountie is being hailed as a hero for pulling a woman from a vehicle after it went off a Comox, B.C., boat ramp.

A witness called police after realizing a woman was inside the SUV that became submerged after going off the ramp in Point Holmes.

Const. Tammy Douglas of the RCMP's detachment in Courtenay, B.C., said the vehicle was in the water for about eight minutes when officers arrived at 5:30 Thursday afternoon.

Const. Don Sinclair was the first to show up and tied a rope around his waist before entering the water and breaking the back window of the SUV.

He removed the woman from the back seat of the vehicle but she appeared confused and was struggling, pulling him under the water several times.

Another RCMP officer helped Sinclair in bringing the woman to shore before she was taken to hospital, where she remained overnight.

"If he had he not reacted the way he had it certainly could have been a tragic outcome," Douglas said.

He suffered minor cuts while trying to get into the SUV but was otherwise okay.