And survive.

[a14]news open-sot announcer says "wa emma says, "the dive team commander here at the siskiyou county sheriff's office tells me he's been doing this job for more than twenty years and described as a will to survive."

"we did not expect anybody to be alive in that vehicle."

But against all odds - 28-year-old micahael finn was fighting for his life.

"it was turned upside down with the wheels out of the water, about fifteen feet from the bank."

Finn was trapped inside with frigid water rushing through.

"we're guessing the water was probably around forty degrees."

A situation that normally doesn't have a good ending.

"i've never found a survivor like this."

Dive team commander robert giannini says he couldn't believe it when he learned finn was alive.

He managed to find a small air pocket to breathe.

But even with the source of oxygen - the clock was ticking and no one had noticed him.

Chp says by the time someone called 9-1-1 and the car was towed out of the water - nearly 5 hours had passed.

Luckily - an ambulance was standing by and finn quickly got the help he needed.

Giannini says he's not sure why finn stayed in the car instead of trying to get out..

"i would always suggest to try to get out and make it to shore, but he believed he was going to live and that's what kept him alive i believe."

At last check - finn was moved to the intenstive care unit at fairchild medical center.

Chp is working to figure out what caused finn to end up where he did.

In yreka, emma balkenbush, newswatch 12.

C-h-p wants to remind