Hurricane Ian: Firefighters smash car window to rescue woman from flooded road in dramatic footage
BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA: Hurricane Ian caused major flood surges in Florida and many residents were rescued from their cars from inundated roads.
Firefighters and good Samaritans rushed to the scene and rescued trapped drivers in the surging floodwater on Wednesday as Hurricane Ian battered southwest Florida and turned streets into churning rivers.
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Several videos have emerged showing brave men risking their own safety to rescue others despite powerful winds, torrential rain, and devastating flooding in Bonita Springs, a city in Lee County.
During the flood surge, an elderly man was seen trapped in his car. A few men reached the man's car, but they realized the door was wedged shut, and the driver was too stunned to help himself. Then they were seen on video carrying the elderly man from swift floodwaters to safety. This brave act has been appreciated after a video of the rescue was shared on Instagram account handle @colliercountyboys.
"We saw an elderly man struggling in his car, and we knew he needed help," Benny, one of the rescuers, told Storyful.
"The guys all maintained to grab the door and pry it open," he continued. "He was a bit in shock, so he didn’t want to let go, so we assured him we were there to help him. The guys carefully picked him up out of the car and brought him to shore, away from the current."
Meanwhile, the devastation of Hurricane Ian in Naples caused a woman to become trapped in her car while attempting to drive through flood waters.Rescue workers stepped in to save her life.
The Naples Fire-Rescue Department captured a video of a member of the department smashing a window using an axe to rescue the unidentified woman who was trapped in her car before leading her through the flooded road to safety.
The facebook post from the department warned people to stay off the roads due to flooding.
The effects of Hurricane Ian have been devastating, with thousands of people left without electricity and catastrophic flooding. Ian is recorded to be one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the US.
There was no electricity and barely any cell service in the areas where the surge had the most impact, so relief crews sawed through trees to reach people in flooded homes. Fort Myers authorities received calls from people trapped in flooded homes or worried relatives. Several people posted videos showing debris-covered water on social media sites.
According to Fox News, members of the National Guard have also performed "dozens" of rescues since Hurricane Ian hit.