74-year-old woman and her pets were about to get submerged in flood — a ‘walking angel’ saved her life
The Texas floods have been a tragedy and no one can fathom the grief of those who have lost loved ones, homes, belongings and invaluable parts of their lives. Around 134 people have been reported dead due to the floods, according to ABC News. Over 100 people are still missing and the damage is incomprehensible. Amid this bleak reality, there are beacon lights in the form of strangers coming to the rescue of others, thereby restoring hope in humanity. A 74-year-old woman named Shyrl Whitehead is alive thanks to a beacon light, later recognised as Kevin Freeman, who noticed she was about to get submerged and rushed to save her, per 12 On Your Side.
The woman was on her way on Magnolia Street in her pickup truck with her pet dogs when it was pouring ruthlessly. With thunder and only signs of worry mounting in the skies, the woman decided it was best if she drove home as quickly and carefully as she could. With a blurred windshield, the woman made her way through but in vain. The water levels were rising too quickly. “I got too close to the water and when I realized it, I tried to back up. My pickup slid me into the water and it was too late to get back out of the water,” Whitehead recalled. The water pressure had sealed her doors and windows shut and there seemed to be no route for escape.
The frightening water level soon reached the woman’s neck and she tried her best to stay above, whilst holding her dogs up too. With moments to spare, she quickly began beeping her horn to get the attention of anyone nearby, if at all. That’s when Freeman stepped in. In an update from the outlet, he revealed that he hadn’t really heard the honking due to the downpour. Nevertheless, he kept swimming and made his way to the pick-up truck. He only spotted the vehicle getting submerged and rushed over. “I was scared to not get there in time to help, so I just got out, swam and helped her,” the man said. There they were, the 74-year-old and her pets.
As he tried to open the doors and windows, Whitehead found some hope. She, too, tried to open the back window of her truck and luckily succeeded. Freeman noted that his feet were barely touching the ground at the time. The stranger helped her get her dogs and herself out of the vehicle and remained with her until help arrived. The duo and the dogs were given rafts to get to dry land. While recalling the incident, the woman said that she found hope in the presence of Freeman. “For some reason, I didn’t get scared. I didn’t get out of character or anything. God sent me this man and he was a living angel. Because if he wasn’t there, I don’t think we would have made it,” Whitehead remarked. The duo met a few days later and the woman got her chance to say thank you. “He’s a living, walking angel. God sent him to us,” she remarked.
If a disaster (natural or human‑caused) has left you distressed, and you need help, please reach out to the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1‑800‑985‑5990 (call or text). samhsa.gov