In Beaumont, Texas, a tragic incident unfolded as a mother made the ultimate sacrifice to save her young daughter from rising flood waters during tropical storm Harvey. The storm, which has been unleashing unprecedented rainfall, has led to severe flooding and widespread rescues across the state.
According to reports, the mother and her daughter were traveling on a service road when they encountered high water. In an attempt to escape, she drove into a nearby parking lot, exiting the vehicle with her child in tow. Reports vary regarding the child’s age, suggesting she could be between 18 months and 3 years old.
What transpired next is a parent’s worst nightmare. Authorities indicated that the current swept them away, carrying them approximately half a mile into a flooded canal. Fortunately, two police officers and two rescue divers in an inflatable boat spotted them and intervened. Tragically, the mother was found “unresponsive” in the water.
Officer Mike Thompson with the Beaumont Police Department shared with news outlets that the 41-year-old mother was discovered floating with her daughter clinging to her. “They were in the water for quite some time,” Thompson recounted. “The baby was holding on to her mother, who did everything she could to keep her afloat.” The child was also equipped with a backpack that helped her stay above the water.
Despite their valiant efforts, the mother was later pronounced dead. Thankfully, her daughter was found responsive but suffering from hypothermia. Rescuers administered CPR until an ambulance arrived, and she was transported to a local hospital where she is now reported to be in stable condition.
The ongoing flooding has made rescue efforts incredibly challenging, and tragically, local officials have confirmed at least 30 flood-related deaths as a result of the storm. Some areas in Houston have experienced over 51 inches of rain since Harvey began, and the Houston police department has rescued more than 3,500 individuals, not counting those aided by volunteers and neighbors.
Officer Thompson emphasized the mother’s bravery, stating that she “absolutely saved the child’s life.”
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Summary: A Texas mother tragically drowned while attempting to save her young daughter from flood waters during tropical storm Harvey. The child was rescued and is recovering in stable condition, while the mother was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive in a flooded canal.