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Eddie Hunnell of Wake County, North Carolina, recently became a hero when he jumped into floodwaters to save a woman, Leslie Worth, in Ashe County. Hunnell was in the area for his son’s wedding when floodwaters started rising rapidly, sweeping away a nearby home with Worth still inside. Onlookers could only watch helplessly as the situation worsened, but Hunnell made a quick decision to act.
With a background in swimming and lifeguarding, he says he just couldn’t stand by and watch Worth in that horrible predicament. Armed with a life vest and a rope, Hunnell braved the powerful floodwaters of the New River to rescue her. Despite the strong currents, he was able to successfully reach the woman and bring her safely to shore.
Although they lost all their possessions in the flood, after the rescue, Worth and her husband, Phil, say they’re grateful to have survived. It wasn’t until he was able to reflect on the rescue later that Hunnell realized the danger he was in and how serious the situation really was. Despite the risks, he doesn’t regret his actions and feels he had no choice but to help.