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Hurricane Ian: Nurse reunited with ‘knight in shining armour’ after heroic floodwater rescue | US News


A nurse has been reunited with a TV reporter she hailed as a “knight in shining armor” after he carried her to safety on his back as she was trapped in floodwaters as a storm surged. Hurricane Ian hits Florida.

Tonya McCullough was on her way to work at night in Orlando during a severe storm when she accidentally got stuck on a flooded road and water began to seep into her car.

Luckily, she was discovered by journalist Tony Atkins, who works for an NBC affiliate and covered the impact of the devastation. stormand he came to her aid.

Picture:
NBC journalist Tony Atkins came to the aid of nurse Tonya McCullough during the flood

She climbed out of the car window and onto the back of the waiting lifeguard, who carried her to the sanctuary through waist-high water.

Recalling her ordeal, Ms McCullough said: “It’s dark and rainy and overcast and you don’t know how deep it is.

“Then I realized, I can’t drive through this place. And when I tried to back up, the waves and the water helped get me into the water and when I sat in it, the water got inside the car.”

Mr Atkins said: “I was there all morning and I just and thought it was safe. I didn’t see power lines, I didn’t see animals, I didn’t see anyone else, so that’s why. why I jumped on it.”

He and Mrs McCullough have now met again in a tearful reunion, where the grandmother hugged him and said: “He was there for me when I needed him.

“He’s my knight in shining armor. He’s there to rescue me.”

There was also laughter when Mr Atkins recalled how she had given him her bag to take with her during the dangerous rescue.

An aerial view of damaged and flooded homes after Hurricane Ian tore through the area, in this still image taken from video in Lee County, Florida, U.S., September 29, 2022 WPLG TV via ABC via REUTERS.  ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE IS SUPPLYED BY THIRD PARTY PROCESSED CREDIT
Picture:
Aerial shot of homes damaged and flooded by Hurricane Ian

He said: “I was confused when you gave me the wallet. I was like ‘Oh, okay, I’ll take the wallet’.”

There is also gratitude from Ms. McCullough’s son, Stephon, who is serving in the US Air Force.

Speaking by video phone, he said: “We need to bring you a medal or something. I’m really looking into that with my commander to say thank you.”

Ms McCullough told her lifeguard: “Please continue to be there and help because you never know when someone like me will need it. And I really appreciate that. I’m so grateful. .”

In response, Mr Atkins joked: “I’ll be here for Thanksgiving.”

Read more:
‘Dangerous’ storm heads for Washington and New York, as the number of people reaches 77

There’s no calm after the storm as Floridians are scrambling for the basics after Hurricane Ian

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‘Some people have been trapped for days’

The heartwarming story of courage emerges as the remnants of Hurricane Ian sweep through Virginia and the hurricane-affected residents of Florida and the Carolinas face an expected rebuilding and rebuilding process. cost tens of billions of pounds.

The death toll is also expected to rise as floodwaters recede and search teams reach previously cut off areas.

At least 50 hurricane-related deaths have been confirmed since Ian made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast with catastrophic force Wednesday, bringing torrential rain and gusts of 150 mph.

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will witness the devastation in Florida with their own eyes on Wednesday, the White House said.

Meanwhile, Cuba is restoring power after Ian shut down power across the island, flattening homes and ravaging agricultural fields.

The storm gradually reduced to a hurricane after the tropical cyclone weakened.

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