Rock Hill, S.C.: A Remarkable Tale of Survival Following Tropical Storm Helene
Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been making headlines lately, but not for the ordinary reasons. A gripping tale of survival has emerged from the chaos brought on by Tropical Storm Helene, revealing both the challenges faced by residents and the resilience of the human spirit. Among those touched by the storm is David Hamner, a husband and father of three girls, who found himself trapped under the weight of a fallen tree in his home.
Rescue and Hope Amidst Destruction
On September 27, David’s life took a dramatic turn when a large tree crashed through his home during the storm, pinning him to his bed. This heart-stopping incident left him struggling for breath and battling panic. “I woke up to being pinned down, the weight bearing down on me,” he recounted. “I couldn’t breathe from the beginning.”
Luckily, his wife quickly called 911, leading emergency workers to rush to their aid. They managed to usher her to safety before getting to the challenging task of rescuing David. “All I could see was a hole in a wall,” he remembered, as rescuers began cutting through the structure to reach him. “Once they found my head, they punched through, made it bigger, and were able to get an oxygen mask down there.”
The struggle to breathe was overwhelming, and David felt as though he was fighting for his life. “An hour and a half and just [breathing], that’s all I could do,” he said, emphasizing the mental and physical toll the experience took on him. During those harrowing moments, a firefighter remained by his side, offering much-needed encouragement. “He just kept giving me the verbal reaffirmation to concentrate on the breathing, keep fighting,” David recalled, a testament to the importance of support during crises.
A Father’s Pride
Meanwhile, the family’s two younger daughters, aged 11 and 5, demonstrated their own courage. “They like a couple of little squirrels,” David said with a mix of admiration and disbelief. The twins climbed through a hole made by the fallen tree, scampering to safety in an inspiring display of resourcefulness. “Shimmied down the branch through a hole in the wall and jumped down to safety. And that is so amazing. Another God thing.”
After what felt like an eternity, rescuers successfully extracted David from the wreckage. In a poignant moment captured on camera, he gave a thumbs-up while being lifted on a stretcher, his spirit unbroken despite the traumatic incident. “They thought I was dead multiple times, and if I wasn’t dead, my whole left side was going to be completely crushed,” he said, still in shock at the near-fatal circumstances. “And by the grace of God, after tests, I walked out of the hospital without a broken bone.”
Gratitude and Looking Forward
Though the Hamner family lost their home, David’s gratitude for life and his family has been palpable since the tragedy. Now recovering at a local hotel, they find comfort in being together. “I look forward to meeting the emergency workers who helped rescue me,” he expressed, eager to acknowledge the heroes who played a crucial role in their survival.
The road to recovery and rebuilding their lives is going to be a long one for the Hamners. Despite the daunting task ahead, their hope continues to shine bright. Community support can be a source of strength and optimism during such tough times, and anyone looking to assist the Hamners can look into various local initiatives.
No matter the challenges that lie ahead, the Hamners’ story is a reminder of the indomitable human spirit and the power of community. Their experience, marked by fear but ultimately filled with gratitude, serves as a beacon of hope for all who are navigating life in the aftermath of Helene.
