Bikini-clad tow truck driver pulls out Ford F-150, boat trailer that plunged into Big Island harbor

It was just before noon on Tuesday when a Big Island tow truck driver, clad in a bikini, arrived at Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor to fish a jack-knifed Ford F-150 out of the water.

Jill Bianchini, 25, had just finished a tow job near La‘aloa Beach Park in Kona when she called her dad, Theo Bianchini, to let him know she was going to hit the beach.

FIve minutes later she got a call back from her dad, who owns Theo’s Towing. He had another job for her at Honokōhau Small Boat Harbor. She needed to pull a truck and boat trailer out of the salt water after its brakes reportedly malfunctioned while the driver was attempting to tow his fishing boat out of the harbor on the ramp that was slippery with algae.

When Bianchini arrived on scene, she said the first thing she did was make sure the driver was safe and then she went on to assess the situation.

The truck and trailer were 10 feet underwater.

Jill Bianchini, who has been working for her dad’s towing company for about five years, said the job on Tuesday was challenging because the truck was so deep.

Armed with a borrowed snorkel mask from the driver and size 9 fins from a manta ray tour boat, Bianchini had to dive down to the truck to get the chains hooked up, using the weight of the chains to bring her down to the truck faster.

With only 150 feet of winch, Bianchini said her father instructed her to keep the tow truck on dry land. She used five cable chains – totalling 300 feet – and a 20-foot container strap to hook the truck up and pull it out of the water.

“I had to make sure everything was connected,” Bianchini said. “I was trying to take my time but get it done quickly.

Despite critiquing her 30-second breathholds, Bianchini was able to get the truck out of the water in about half an hour. In another 30 minutes, it was on the tow truck getting transported.

Bianchini said she took her time to let the water drain from the vehicle before loading it on the tow truck.

Bianchini said a crowd gathered and watched her get the pickup out of the water with some trying to help.

“I was in my bathing suit doing this,” she said with a laugh. “I hope I inspired other women.”

There were no reported injuries or additional damages to other vessels.

“What a crazy experience,” Jill Bianchini said. “I’m glad everything worked out.”