A man’s quick thinking and bravery saved a driver trapped in floodwaters from Hurricane Francine near Miles Crawford’s home. Crawford, a 39-year-old off-duty emergency room nurse, sprang into action when he saw the unfolding crisis in his New Orleans neighborhood on Wednesday night.
Crawford rushed to the scene armed with a hammer, wading through waist-high water to reach the submerged truck. Time was of the essence as the water had risen up to the driver’s head. Crawford instructed the driver to move to the back of the truck’s cab, which was in shallower water due to the front end being angled down.
With determination, Crawford broke the back window with the hammer and successfully rescued the man, managing to prevent him from falling into the fast-moving water. Within minutes, the truck vanished under the floodwater.
Despite sustaining a cut to his hand during the rescue, which he had bandaged, Crawford, accustomed to dealing with emergencies, prioritized the driver’s safety. He never learned the man’s name but acted out of his instinct as a nurse to assist those in need.
Reflecting on the event, Crawford humbly credited his profession for his swift actions, stating, “It’s just second nature, I guess, being a nurse, you just go in and get it done, right? I just had to get him out of there.”