Sandy MaloneWhitesburg, KY – Footage has gone viral of an 83-year-old woman being lifted from a rooftop by a helicopter amidst raging floodwaters in southeastern Kentucky (video below).
“We wanted to share how amazing our friends at DET 1 C/2-238th AVN – Wildcat DUSTOFF are,” the Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team (WCSART) posted to its Facebook page when it shared the incredible video.
“This residence had 5 members trapped in the attic,” the post continued. “Wolfe County Swift Water techs broke through a window to gain access to the family. One at a time, they were transported out of the home to gain access to the roof where a guardsman was positioned to assist with the hoist.”
The post went on to explain the video that became so popular.
“On this particular evolution, an 83yr old female was hoisted to safety,” WCSART posted. “Although team members had moved to a safe distance during the hoist, you can still witness the power of the rotor wash and its impact on the teams’ ability to maintain position. Teams coming together to save lives.”
The post credited countless agencies from across the state that have responded to help with the flood.
On Monday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said there had been at least 35 deaths as a result of the flooding, NBC News reported.
Beshear said on Sunday that the National Guard had conducted more than 1,000 rescues from the raging floodwaters using airlifts.
The death toll is expected to rise as search and recovery efforts continue, NBC News reported.
The governor toured some of the hardest-hit areas of his state on July 31 and called the floods “certainly the deadliest and the most devastating of my lifetime.”
“I mean, houses swept away for miles. They don’t know where some parts of people’s houses are,” Beshear said.
Watch the rescue unfold in the video below:
An incredible video of a water rescue in SEKY.
Wolfe County Search & Rescue shared this video where five people trapped in the attic. Crews broke a window to get to the family and onto the roof.
In the video, an 83-year-old woman is hoisted to safety. #WKYT pic.twitter.com/yMe738GdHO
— Chad Hedrick (@ChadHedrickWKYT) July 31, 2022
Holly Matkin
