Fox Weatherman Stops Live Broadcast to Save Atlanta Woman Trapped in Hurricane Helene Flood

As a seasoned weather enthusiast and admirer of heroic acts, I can confidently say that Bob Van Dillen has solidified his place among the ranks of extraordinary individuals who put others before themselves. His swift action during Hurricane Helene, diving into treacherous waters to save a woman trapped in her car, epitomizes selflessness and bravery – qualities that are not only essential but also inspiring in times of crisis.


During a live broadcast from Atlanta, Fox Weather’s meteorologist Bob Van Dillen paused his weather update to rescue a distressed woman who was stuck in her submerged vehicle due to the flooding brought on by Hurricane Helene.

At approximately 7 a.m., Van Dillen was broadcasting live from Peachtree Creek in North Atlanta, where heavy flooding had left a woman stranded in her vehicle. As she cried for assistance, Van Dillen reassured her that emergency services had been contacted and help was en route. However, as the woman’s cries persisted, Van Dillen chose to take action, braving the floodwaters himself to rescue her from her car and bring her to safety.

Approximately thirty minutes following the rescue operation, Van Dillen reconnected to the live “Fox & Friends” show, during which hosts Ainsley Earhardt and Steve Doocy inquired about his brave actions.

Van Dillen stated that she was extremely agitated, her words were hard to understand, and she was still fastened in her car seat. He added, ‘She had the safety belt on, and her window was slightly open, trying to communicate with me from that small opening. I was struggling to unlock the door, Ainsley, due to the water pressure. Eventually, I told her to lower her window more, which she did. This allowed me to finally open the door. The car’s battery was functional, and it seemed like the engine was still running… The water temperature was around 80 degrees, making the water relatively warm.’

In my opinion, as I stood there, the floodwaters reached up to my chest – a depth that would have been challenging for a woman of average height to navigate on her own. Admittedly, I was taken aback by how swift and deep it was, something I hadn’t anticipated. Fortunately, the fire department did manage to arrive within 15 minutes, but their hands are full as they grapple with an overwhelming influx of emergency calls.

Van Dillen explained that he couldn’t figure out how it happened, but it seemed like a miracle when the woman could lower the window despite the car being submerged in water. The window moved as if there were no issues, and it even went down into the water. This enabled equalizing the pressure, which allowed him to force open the door, undo her seatbelt, place her on his side, and continue driving. It all worked out well.

Watch videos of the Fox News broadcast below.

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2024-09-27 19:17