Meteorologist’s heroic act: Rescuing a woman trapped in floodwaters

A morning broadcast turns into a rescue mission

In an unexpected turn of events, a Fox Weather meteorologist, Bob Van Dillen, transformed from a weather reporter to a hero during a live broadcast. Reporting from Peachtree Creek in North Atlanta, Van Dillen found himself in the midst of a life-threatening situation caused by the devastating floods from Hurricane Helene.

The unfolding crisis

It was just after 7 a.m. when Van Dillen was delivering his weather report. The rising floodwaters had trapped a woman in her car, and her desperate cries for help echoed through the area. Van Dillen, initially assuring her that emergency services had been called, soon realized that immediate action was necessary. Without hesitation, he ventured into the floodwaters to rescue the woman.

The rescue operation

Van Dillen described the harrowing experience upon rejoining the “Fox & Friends” broadcast. He recounted how the woman was panicking and struggling to communicate through a partially opened window. The water pressure made it impossible to open the car door, but Van Dillen instructed her to roll down the window further, which miraculously worked despite the flood.

“She was panicking. She really wasn’t making too much sense, and she was still strapped into her car seat,” Van Dillen explained. “The water pressure wasn’t allowing me to open the door. So I said, ‘Roll your window down.’ She did, and it allowed me to open the door.”

The technical challenge

The fact that the car’s battery and engine were still operational in the flood was nothing short of a miracle. This allowed the window to be rolled down, equalizing the pressure and enabling Van Dillen to pry the door open. He then unbuckled her seatbelt and carried her to safety.

“I don’t know how it worked. It’s like a miracle that the water didn’t short circuit all the boards and allowed the window to go down,” Van Dillen remarked. “But that allowed the pressure to be equalized and allowed me to pry the door open.”

The aftermath

The water level had risen to Van Dillen’s chest, making it clear that the woman, who was about five feet tall, would not have been able to escape on her own. The fire department arrived approximately 15 minutes later, but the sheer volume of 911 calls had delayed their response.

“I didn’t realize how deep it was,” Van Dillen said. “The fire department did eventually arrive, but they are receiving so many 911 calls.”

Reflecting on the heroism

Van Dillen’s quick thinking and bravery undoubtedly saved the woman’s life. His actions highlight the unpredictable nature of live reporting and the extraordinary measures sometimes required in emergency situations. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that first responders and even bystanders can play in times of crisis.

Watch the broadcast

For those interested in seeing the broadcast and the rescue, you can watch the videos on the Fox News website.

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