The Hero of Hurricane Helene: Eddie Hunnell
Eddie Hunnell, a North Carolina man, has become a hero after his brave actions during Hurricane Helene in Ashe County. Equipped with only a life vest and a rope, Hunnell jumped into the raging floodwaters of the New River to save a woman trapped in a house being washed away by the storm.
Cellphone video captured the harrowing moment when a home was swept away with the woman still inside. Hunnell, who was in Grassy Creek for his son’s wedding, sprang into action upon hearing cries for help from onlookers. Without hesitation, he decided to risk his own life to save another.
With his background in swimming and lifeguarding, Hunnell took the calculated risk of venturing into the floodwaters to reach Leslie Worth. He successfully rescued her and brought her to safety on the riverbank. Worth and her husband, Phil, expressed their gratitude by posing for a photo with their hero, Eddie Hunnell.
“It didn’t hit me until I laid down in bed that night and about had a panic attack, but I didn’t see another option,” Hunnell reflected on his courageous act.
Despite losing all their belongings, the Worths were thankful to be alive and even attended the wedding’s rehearsal dinner as honorary guests. The community hailed Eddie Hunnell as a true hero for his selfless act during a time of crisis.
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