Johnny Lauder’s mother, Karen, 86, decided not to leave her home in Naples County, Florida, before Ian made landfall, with winds of 150 mph.
“When the hurricane hit Florida this week, the water in the house was more than three feet (91 cm), I could have gone to a shelter, but I didn’t think it would be that bad,” Karen said.
Karen added to the British “Sky News” network, that the water was reaching her wheelchair, which forced her to seek help from her son.
It took Johnny 45 minutes of swimming, with several vehicles floating beside him, in the flood waters, to reach Mrs. Lauder’s home.
“It was a very difficult swim, and the water was flowing fast,” he said.
“I was aware of the dangers I could take, but my mum was there and didn’t have much time,” he added.
When he got home, he could hear his mother’s screams. “I was terrified and relieved at the same time,” he said.
As a former diver and police officer, he noticed signs of hypothermia and sores on her body, so he raised her above a table and wrapped her in sheets until the water drained.
Three hours later, he managed to push her to safety in her wheelchair, with the help of his son.
Ms. Lauder was taken to hospital with infections, but her son said: “She’s been treated, she’s in a comfortable bed, she’s fine.”
He added: “My mother has changed her tone: You will evacuate next time, I hope people learn from the mistakes of others and not from their own.”
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