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Hurricane Ian: Man swims 45 minutes through floodwater to save his aged mother from drowning

In the face of Hurricane Ian, a man swam half a mile through floodwater to save his mother from drowning after she refused to leave her house.

Johnny Lauder’s mother Karen, 86, decided not to leave her house in Naples, Florida before Ian made landfall with 150mph winds on Wednesday.

It had flooded around six inches (15cm) during Hurricane Irma in 2017 – so she assumed water levels would be similar to Ian.

But when the storm hit this week, the water in the house was more than three feet (91cm) deep – eventually reaching up to her chest.

“I could have gone to a shelter, but I didn’t think it’d be that bad,” Mrs Lauder told NBC News.

It was then she sent a distress call.

“She said the water was up to her wheelchair and hitting her belly button,” Mr Lauder said.

At this point, he helped his three children crawl into his son’s attic with the three family pets and dove out of the window to rescue his mother.

Pic: Johnny Lauder/AP
Image:Karen Lauder on a makeshift bed. Pic: Johnny Lauder/AP

45-minute swim through flooded streets

It took him 45 minutes of swimming against the current through five feet of floodwater – with various vehicles floating by him – to reach Mrs Lauder’s house.

“It was a very rough swim, if you can call it that, and I knew the water was coming up faster and faster,” he said.

“I was aware of the dangers any type of current could take me, I could be hit by debris, but my mom was there and I knew she didn’t have much time.”

But he added: “Who wouldn’t go for their mom?”

Mr Lauder took pictures throughout the journey so he could send them back to his family as proof he was okay.

When he got to the house, he could hear his mother’s screaming.

“It was a sense of terror and relief at the same time,” he said.

“The terror was that I didn’t know if something was falling on her or if she was trapped and hurt. But the relief was knowing that there’s still air in her lungs.”

Pic: Johnny Lauder/AP
Image:Eventually they wheeled her back through the streets. Pic: Johnny Lauder/AP

Showing signs of hypothermia

As a former rescuer diver and police officer, he could see she was showing signs of hypothermia and had sores on her body, so lifted her on top of a table and wrapped her in sheets while they waited for the water to subside.

After three hours he was able to push her to safety in her wheelchair – with the help of his son.

Mrs Lauder was taken to the hospital after contracting infections, but her son said: “They were treated and she’s warm. She’s in a soft, comfy bed. She’s good.”

Pic: Johnny Lauder/AP
Image:John and Karen Lauder. Pic: Johnny Lauder/AP

 

Mr Lauder, his eldest son, and his mother have all had their homes destroyed.

His sister-in-law in Miami set up a crowdfunding that has raised more than $17,000 (£15,050) after it emerged the family did not have rental insurance.

“All that can be replaced, life can’t,” Mr Lauder said.

“My mom has changed her tone: she will be evacuating next time. I hope people learn from other’s mistakes and not their own.”

His mother added: “I’m just so glad I’m here today.”

 

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