In the midst of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact, one brave Fox News weather reporter stepped up in a way that went beyond covering the news. Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen, while on the ground in Atlanta reporting on the devastating storm, heroically saved a woman from drowning after her car became submerged in floodwaters. His quick actions likely saved her life, a powerful testament to the courage and determination of everyday heroes in the face of disaster.
Hurricane Helene has already claimed dozens of lives across the southeastern coastal states, with heavy rain, flooding, and powerful winds wreaking havoc on communities. But thanks to Van Dillen’s courageous intervention, the death toll didn’t climb by one more that day.
Van Dillen was in the middle of a live broadcast, documenting the effects of the storm in Atlanta, when he noticed a woman in distress. She was trapped in her vehicle, which had been overtaken by rising floodwaters. Realizing that time was running out and that first responders were overwhelmed with other high-water rescues, Van Dillen didn’t hesitate to take matters into his own hands.
“I could hear her screaming, even through my live shot,” Van Dillen recalled during an appearance on *Fox & Friends*, describing the urgency of the moment. He said the woman had already called 911, but it was clear help would not arrive in time. Without a second thought, he decided to act. “I realized I’m on air, but I can’t just stand by and let her drown,” he told viewers.
Van Dillen dropped everything, literally. “I took my wallet out of my pants, and I went in there,” he explained. Wading into the floodwaters, which reached his chest, Van Dillen braved the dangerous conditions to get to the submerged vehicle. With floodwaters rising fast, he was concerned about the temperature and current, but none of that stopped him. “The current wasn’t that bad, but the water temperature was still a factor. I knew I had to act quickly.”
When he reached the woman, the situation was dire. Water had nearly reached her neck, and she was still strapped into her car seat. “She was about neck deep in water. If I hadn’t gone in, she would have drowned,” Van Dillen recounted. Instructing the woman to unbuckle her seatbelt, he helped her out of the car window, grabbed her belongings, and carried her on his back through the floodwaters to safety.
Once out of harm’s way, Van Dillen took care of her until help arrived. “She was in shock, cold, and shivering. I gave her one of my shirts to warm her up, and we waited in my car until the fire department came.” He added that the woman’s husband arrived shortly after to take her home, a heartwarming end to what could have been a tragic story.
Van Dillen’s selfless actions exemplify the bravery and resolve we need in times of crisis. While much of the media focuses on the devastation and loss caused by natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, stories like this remind us that heroes walk among us—even in the most unexpected places, like the weather team at Fox News.
As communities continue to recover from Hurricane Helene’s destruction, Van Dillen’s actions stand as a beacon of hope. When faced with the choice to merely report the news or become part of it, he chose the latter, proving that in moments of crisis, true character shines brightest.
