With this strangled-sounding, frantic exclamation, actor William Shatner alerted authorities about the drowning death of his wife in the pool of their Studio City, California, estate.
Police today in Los Angeles released the transcript of Shatner's 911 emergency call placed August 9. The exchange, less than 30 seconds in length, is as frighteningly real as reenactments on Shatner's old Rescue 911 reality series were laughably stilted.
Here is the 911 call:
SHATNER: "Oh, my God!..."
911 DISPATCH:: "What's your problem there, sir?"
SHATNER: "My wife's at the bottom of the pool!"
911 DISPATCH: "Okay, did you get her out of the pool yet, sir?"
SHATNER: "No, not yet."
911 DISPATCH: "I want you to take her out of the pool right now."
SHATNER: "She's at the very deep end..."
911 DISPATCH: "Okay, sir. If you can, grab something and get her out of the pool. Sir. Sir. Right away, get your wife out of the pool."
SHATNER: "Okay."
911 DISPATCH: "Don't hang up the phone."
But Shatner did hang up to dive into the pool to retrieve his model wife, the former Nerine Kidd, police say. The Star Trek captain tried unsuccessfully to revive the 40-year-old woman.
An autopsy performed last week on Nerine Shatner was inconclusive, pending toxicology results. Police say the drowning was accidental--no foul play suspected.
The Shatners wed in November 1997. It was the actor's third marriage. Reputedly frustrated with Nerine's ongoing alcohol problem, Shatner filed for divorce just 11 months later, but never pursued the case.