Bystanders on Tuesday pulled a woman to safety after she was trapped in fast-moving flood waters in Oklahoma City, a dramatic rescue that played out on live television.
As NBC-affiliate KFOR-TV began broadcasting the scene from a helicopter just before 10 a.m. local time, the woman was seen clinging to a tree and struggling not to be swept away.
The pilot, Mason Dunn, said she had gone under water right before the crew went on the air.
“I’ve got chills up here flying,” he said, as it was still not clear whether the man trying to rescue her would succeed.
The good Samaritan was able to secure her with a rope while two others quickly pulled her out of water.
Oklahoma is one of six states hit by a massive storm system that included at least six tornadoes on Monday and shut down numerous roads that were inundated with rainwater. Tornadoes were also reported Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Texas.
Oklahoma City was under a flood watch on Tuesday and classes were canceled for the day.
After the woman was pulled out of the water, the civilian who had brought her a rope had to wait for firefighters to rescue him as the water continued to move dangerously fast by the tree he was holding to.
It was one of many rescues reported in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Two rescues took place on the same road in just two hours in the city, including one involving a family who was stuck to their car, according to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.
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