Live TV coverage captures rescue of trapped driver from floodwater during Hurricane Francine in New Orleans
A dramatic rescue was captured on live TV in New Orleans as Hurricane Francine swept into the city.
The category two storm made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that caused flooding and power outages for over a quarter of a million properties.
Jonah Gilmore, a reporter with New Orleans channel WDSU, was reporting live when he witnessed a vehicle driving into floodwater.
“We saw the pickup truck going into the underpass from the opposite direction… going against traffic… when this area was blocked off,” he mentioned.
The reporter signaled a nearby police officer as he explained how the water was rising rapidly – but a passing Good Samaritan also sprang into action and approached the car with a hammer.
Mr Gilmore informed viewers: “You can see that guy breaking the [vehicle’s] window.”
The footage then showed a man emerging from a rear door window and squeezing through the gap.
The driver was eventually rescued by Miles Crawford before firefighters arrived at the scene.
Flooding has submerged parts of New Orleans: Pic: AP
Mr Crawford, a nurse working in a hospital ER department, later said: “I just had to go in there and get him. I’m a nurse so I got to save lives.”
Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana with winds nearing 100mph in Terrebonne Parish, about 30 miles southwest of Morgan City, according to the National Hurricane Centre.
This led to evacuation orders for thousands of people in a region still recovering from devastating hurricanes in 2020 and 2021.
Evacuation orders were issued before Hurricane Francine hit. Pic: Reuters
Firefighters have been active in Morgan City, near where the storm made landfall. Pic: AP
Morgan City fire chief Alvin Cockerham stated that the hurricane quickly flooded streets, downed power lines, and toppled trees.
“It’s a bit worse than what I expected to be honest with you…. it’s too risky to be out there in this,” he mentioned.
The hurricane later moved inland, resulting in power outages for 261,000 properties across southeastern Louisiana, before weakening to a tropical storm.
Read more from Sky News:
Former model ‘pureed’ in blender
Jon Bon Jovi helps ‘distraught’ woman on bridge
Trump’s pet-eating debate moment talk of town
Significant rainfall of 10 to 20cm (4 to 8in) is expected in much of Louisiana and Mississippi, with the potential for up to 30cm (12in), according to Brad Reinhart, a senior specialist at the hurricane centre.
Francine is the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and was fueled by unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico.
President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration to assist Louisiana in obtaining expedited federal funding and aid.
