Hurricane Ian: Man swims 45 minutes in floodwaters to save elderly mother from drowning | US News

A man swims 800 meters through floodwaters to save a drowning mother after she refuses to evacuate her home in the face of Hurricane Ian.

Johnny Lauder’s mother Karen, 86, has decided not to leave her home in Naples. Florida Previous Ian We landed on Wednesday with 150 mph winds.

It was submerged about 6 inches (15 cm) during Hurricane Irma in 2017, so she guessed the water level would be about the same as Ian’s.

But when a storm hit this week, the water inside the house was over three feet (91 cm) deep, eventually reaching her chest.

“I could have gone to a shelter, but I didn’t think it was that bad,” Mrs. Lauder told NBC News.

Her son, not evacuated for fear of leaving his mother behind, was at his eldest son’s house about half a mile away.

Then she sent out a distress signal.

“She said the water had come up to her wheelchair and hit her navel,” Mr. Lauder said.

At this point, he helped three children sneak into his son’s attic with three family pets and jump out a window to rescue his mother.

Swim for 45 minutes through flooded streets

It took him 45 minutes to reach Mrs. Lauder’s house, swimming against the current in a five-foot flood with various cars floating alongside him.

“If you can say that, it was a very rough swim, and I knew the water was going faster and faster,” he said.

“I was aware of the dangers that any kind of current would take me. I could hit some debris, but I knew my mother was there and I didn’t have a lot of time.”

However, he added:

Mr. Lauder was able to take pictures during the trip and send them back to his family as proof of his safety.

When he got home, he heard his mother screaming.

“It was terrifying and a relief at the same time,” he said.

“The horror was not knowing if something had fallen on her or if she had been trapped and injured. But I knew there was still air in her lungs.

showing signs of hypothermia

A former rescue worker and police officer, he could see that she was showing signs of hypothermia and had scars on her body, so he lifted her onto a table and waited for the water to recede. wrapped in a sheet.

Three hours later, with the help of his son, he was able to push her to safety in a wheelchair.

Mrs. Lauder was taken to the hospital after contracting an infection, but her son said: “They are being treated and warmed up. She is in a soft and comfortable bed. She is fine.”

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Mr. Lauder, his eldest son, and his mother all had their homes destroyed.

His sister-in-law, who lives in Miami, launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $17,000 (£15,050) after it was revealed that the family had no rental insurance.

“You can replace everything, but you can’t replace life,” Lauder said.

“My mother has changed her tone. Next time I will evacuate. I hope to learn from others’ mistakes instead of my own.”

“I’m so happy to be here today,” added his mother.