Friday 30 September 2022 06:35 AM Heroic hurricane reporter rescues Orlando nurse by carrying her on his BACK ... trends now
Uplifting video shows a reporter in hurricane-stricken Orlando engaging in a heartwarming rescue of a woman who attempted to traverse the city's still-flooded streets in her car Thursday morning.
The heroic act, captured by the journalist's camera crew, came during NBC affiliate WESH 2's live coverage of Hurricane Ian - and has since seen intrepid reporter Tony Atkins hailed as a hero.
Posted to social media just hours after the heart-pounding rescue, the footage shows Atkins carrying the woman, who was reportedly a nurse on her way to work, out of the window of her almost fully submerged vehicle.
Braving floodwaters that reached up to his waist, the selfless journalist carries the stranded citizen on his back in the heartwarming clip, wading through the raging current to bring her to safety.
If that was not enough, Atkins accomplished the commendable feat all while dutifully clutching the woman's purse, keeping it dry above the floodwater.
Photos show the full extent of such flooding in the city, where first responders braved overflowed streets in seven feet of water to rescue residents left stranded in Ian's wake.
When asked why he bravely rushed to the woman's aide - likely risking his life in the process - Atkins simply said, 'I just had to.'
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Video shows a reporter in hurricane-stricken Orlando engaging in a heartwarming rescue of a woman who attempted to traverse the city's still-flooded streets in her car Thursday morning
The heroic act, captured by the journalist's camera crew, came during NBC affiliate WESH 2's live coverage of Hurricane Ian - and has since seen reporter Tony Atkins hailed as a hero
Posted to social media just hours after the heart-pounding rescue, the footage shows Atkins carrying the woman out of the window of her almost fully submerged vehicle
Braving floodwaters that reached up to his waist, the selfless journalist carries the stranded citizen on his back, wading through the raging current to bring her to safety - all while dutifully keeping her purse dry
When asked why he bravely rushed to the woman's aide - likely risking his life in the process - WESH 2'd Atkins simply said, 'I just had to'
According to Atkins, the woman - who was not named - had elected to take her car out in the early hours despite the dangerous conditions due to the fact that she feared she would lose her job if she called in.
'Our woman from early this morning made it to work,' Atkins, a former journalist in Milwaukee, shared in a update on the woman's situation Thursday.
'Her job as a nurse hung in the balance, according to her daughter,' he added. 'I got this message from her daughter today.'
The journalist's post included a heartfelt and grateful message to Atkins sent by the unidentified woman's daughter.
'So glad things worked out,' he wrote.
Atkins accomplished the commendable feat all while dutifully clutching the woman's purse, keeping it dry above the floodwater
The footage shows Atkins braving hurricane force winds as he carried out the thrilling rescue
With the purse still in hand, Atkins waded the two of them through the worst of the flooding
Officials have said that is extremely dangerous to drive through floodwaters and should not be attempted
In a post to Twitter after the incident, Atkins revealed that the woman - who was not named - had elected to take her car out in the early hours despite the dangerous conditions due to the fact that she feared she would lose her job if she called in
The journalist's post included a heartfelt and grateful message to Atkins sent by the unidentified woman's daughter
The clip of the daring rescue, shared to social media by Atkins' colleagues, has since gone viral, with his coworkers and fellow Floridians touting the reporter's heroics.
'During our live coverage, our reporter @TonyAtkinsTV stopped to save a woman who got stuck in some heavy flooding,' fellow WESH staffer Caelan Dooley wrote in an impassioned post to Twitter as the video began to circulate online.
'What a hero,' she added.
Fellow reporter Marlei Martinez, meanwhile, echoed those congratulatory sentiments - while also pointing out that her colleague, despite the danger, saw to it that the woman's purse was also kept safe.
'My colleague, Tony Atkins, just did this! Incredible,' Martinez tweeted early Thursday, shortly after the rescue. 'I also love how he carried her purse the whole way too.'
The clip of the daring rescue, shared to social media by Atkins' colleagues, has since gone viral, with his coworkers and fellow Floridians touting the reporter's heroics
According to Atikins, there had been no law enforcement or others in the area who could of potentially helped the stuck woman.
He explained: 'I just used caution, and I just decided to slowly make my way out there and just help her out.'
The thoughtful newsman would then add: 'I'm just glad she got home safe.'
He has since been celebrated for saving the woman's life.
According to Atikins, there had been no law enforcement or others in the area who could of potentially helped the stuck woman
When asked why he bravely rushed to the woman's aide - likely risking his life in the process - Atkins simply said, 'I just had to'
In another post to social media following the incident, Atkins said he had seen other hospital workers, including an ambulance, attempt navigate the flooded roads and make it into work - and had subsequently nearly gone into the floodwater.
The journalist proceeded to warn residents of the current conditions in the city as the
