Crime & JusticeFeatureUpdated Oct 11, 2026

Sergeant rescues 72-year-old man who fell from his wheelchair into the ocean at a Florida marina

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 3 outlets, all right-leaning.

3 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Fox News, Breitbart and the Daily Mail report that on September 27 Bill Von Herbulis, 72, who uses an electric wheelchair, fell into the water at a marina in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The outlets say Volusia County Sgt. William Leven removed his gun belt, dove into the water and pulled Von Herbulis to safety, and that Von Herbulis had held onto a pipe for more than an hour before help arrived. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office posted bodycam video of the rescue, which Breitbart says has gone viral. Fox News reports that Leven is set to receive a Lifesaving Award.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

New to Mantle? It shows who is covering each story across the political spectrum, and highlights loaded words. How to read a storyHide the guide

The coverage spectrum counts the outlets covering a story at each of five points. A short or missing segment means that part of the spectrum is mostly quiet.

Governor Loaded verb“slams”It adds drama to what was said. The governor criticized the lawmakers; “slams” makes it sound like a fight.More neutral: criticizes lawmakers over budget delay

Highlights mark words that carry a judgement. Tap one to see why, and what a neutral writer would say. Here it is “criticizes”.

The 5-point spectrum

Far Left
Voices that strongly advocate for progressive policies and systemic change.
Left
Mainstream liberal perspectives focusing on social equality and regulation.
Center
Sources that prioritize neutral reporting and balanced viewpoints.
Right
Mainstream conservative perspectives focusing on market freedom and tradition.
Far Right
Voices that strongly advocate for conservative values and limited government.

How we measure bias

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

Bill Von Herbulis, 72, fell from his electric wheelchair into the water at a marina in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on September 27.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
Right
Daily Mail
Far Right
Fox News, Breitbart News
Volusia County Sgt. William Leven jumped into the water and brought Von Herbulis to safety.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
Right
Daily Mail
Far Right
Fox News, Breitbart News
Von Herbulis was in the water for more than an hour before help arrived.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
Right
Daily Mail
Far Right
Breitbart News
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office posted bodycam video of the rescue.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
Right
Daily Mail
Far Right
Fox News
Leven is set to receive a Lifesaving Award for the rescue.
One side only: the rightReported byFar Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
Far Right
Fox News, Breitbart News

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three outlets report that a sergeant jumped into shark-filled water to rescue a 72-year-old man who fell from his wheelchair at a Florida marina. The outlets differ mainly in tone, with Breitbart and the Daily Mail leading on predator danger and dramatic visuals.

the left
No coverage yet
No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the center
No coverage yet
No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the right
3 outlets
Headlines lead with the rescue and its danger, using shark and predator imagery and drama words, with Breitbart and the Daily Mail most vivid.
Sensational language“Dramatic moment”The phrase adds drama in the outlet’s own voice where the bodycam footage itself is the factual basis.More neutral: Bodycam footage showsDisagree with this highlight? brave Florida deputy dives into shark-infested waters to save wheelchair-bound grandfather, 72
Daily MailRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

Left
Has not covered this story.
Center
Has not covered this story.
Right1
Dramatic moment

In the outlets’ own words

Sensational language
Dramatic momentMore neutral: Bodycam footage shows
The phrase adds drama in the outlet’s own voice where the bodycam footage itself is the factual basis.
Dramatic moment brave Florida deputy dives into shark-infested waters to save wheelchair-bound…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

0 outlets

No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the center

0 outlets

No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the right

3 outlets

Leads with

the deputy diving into shark-infested water
bodycam footage
the victim’s disability and age

See the 3 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Daily MailRight
Sensational language“Dramatic moment”The phrase adds drama in the outlet’s own voice where the bodycam footage itself is the factual basis.More neutral: Bodycam footage showsDisagree with this highlight? brave Florida deputy dives into shark-infested waters to save wheelchair-bound grandfather, 72
Bill Von Herbulis, 72, was rescued from the ocean after falling into the water at a marina in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on September 27.
Oct 11, 2026Read at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
Breitbart NewsFar Right
WATCH: Florida Sheriff's Sergeant Jumps In Predator-Filled Atlantic to Save Disabled Man
A 72-year-old disabled Florida man’s relaxing night of fishing could have turned into his worst nightmare had not a first responder saved him after he fell from his wheelchair into predator-filled waters of the Atlantic and spent more than an hour alone in the dark.
Oct 11, 2026Read at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
Fox NewsFar Right
Hero deputy rescues wheelchair-bound grandfather who fell into shark-infested waterway
Bodycam footage shows a Volusia County sergeant diving into shark-filled waters near New Smyrna Beach to rescue Bill Von Herbulis from drowning.
Oct 11, 2026Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

Left
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Center
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Right
First to report
Fox News, Oct 11, 7:00 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order

Fox NewsFar RightOct 11, 7:00 AM EDT
Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 11, 2:10 PM EDT
Daily MailRightOct 11, 3:52 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

Sergeant rescues 72-year-old man who fell from his wheelchair into the ocean at a Florida marina

Coverage spectrum

Key points

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

From the center

From the right

WATCH: Florida Sheriff's Sergeant Jumps In Predator-Filled Atlantic to Save Disabled Man

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

How the coverage built up

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