Mother Swept Away by Flood Waters Calls Kids To Say Goodbye, Then Stranger Grabs Her Hand
Some weather is harmless, but when it comes to weather that’s wet, you never know when the rain will turn into a flood.
It seems that autumn is the time of year when we always hear heartbreaking stories about families affected by floodwaters.
It can happen in the blink of an eye. One minute you’re driving in the rain and the next, your vehicle is swept off the road.
A woman from Blairs, Virginia, nearly lost her life when she was driving to work on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 11.
“I called my husband and my kids to tell them goodbye and that I loved them,” Kim Drawdy told WSET ABC 13. “I hit a wall of water and immediately started floating towards the riverbank.”
Drawdy recalled how terrifying it was when over 30 feet of water took control of her vehicle. When she tried to save herself, the car flipped over.
Drawdy sent me these pictures of her car. They were taken days after the incident. She says she is still alive today because a good Samaritan, who was a complete stranger, arrived in time to pull her out of the flood water. pic.twitter.com/hGpP4hku4S
— Hannah McComsey (@HannahMcComsey) October 16, 2018
She was able to get free and struggled in the water for 20 minutes, battling exhaustion and debris, before help arrived. That’s when a man named Billy Wilson came to Drawdy’s rescue.
“I fell into his arms and started bawling like a baby because he just saved my life,” Drawdy told WSET.
Kim Drawdy of Blairs was driving on Goodyear Boulevard in Danville on Thursday when her car was swept into more then 30 feet of flood water @ABC13News pic.twitter.com/ElkTcV15RE
— Hannah McComsey (@HannahMcComsey) October 16, 2018
According to Drawdy, Wilson also attempted to help another woman named Jennifer Mitchell who had been caught up in the floodwaters.
Sadly, Mitchell didn’t make it and Drawdy said that Wilson “dropped to his knees … heartbroken because he was not able to get to her.”
Now Drawdy wants to repay Wilson for his selfless act. She’s started a GoFundMe page for the man who risked his life to save a stranger.
“I’m trying to help him get straight after the storm the best way I can,” Drawdy wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for all who donate… every little bit will help. This young man and his little girl.”
The goal is set at $2,000. As of Thursday morning, $130 has been raised. Bless both their hearts — Wilson for his kindness and Drawdy for her gratitude.
To all those who live in flood-prone areas, stay alert and stay safe. Thankfully, Drawdy’s story has a happy ending, and there is no doubt her husband and children are grateful for the kind man who saved their loved one.
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