Fox Meteorologist Saves Woman From Hurricane Helene Flooding During Live Broadcast — Watch
Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen became the story on Friday when, during a live broadcast, he rescued a woman endangered by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
While reporting on the storm conditions in Atlanta, Van Dillen pointed out a nearby vehicle that had gotten trapped in the rising floodwaters, and the driver could be heard yelling for help. As seen in the video below, Van Dillen initially told viewers that he had contacted the authorities, and the fire department was said to be on their way to help the unnamed woman.
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“She is still screaming,” Van Dillen pointed out, then turned toward the car to tell the driver that first responders were on their way to get her. But as he tossed back to the studio, he seemed eager to help the woman more immediately:
Minutes later, when the broadcast returned, viewers saw that Van Dillen had indeed waded out to the woman’s car and helped her exit the vehicle before carrying her on his back to safer ground. Speaking with Fox News hosts Steve Doocy and Janice Dean, Van Dillen later explained, “I said, ‘You know what, I realize I’m with you guys, I’m on the air, but I can’t let it go.’ I dropped everything and I took my wallet out of my pants, and I waded in, about chest deep.”
Van Dillen confirmed that the woman was now safe and drying off in a Fox vehicle, but she was submerged nearly up to her neck by the time Van Dillen reached her.
“A heroic act, but you know you’re never supposed to do any of that stuff,” Doocy lightly admonished, prompting Van Dillen to jokingly ask his colleagues not to tell his wife about the dangerous rescue: “When I go home eventually, she’s going to lose her shoe in my butt when she finds out.”
Watch more of Van Dillen’s rescue effort below:
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