As the Hurricane Helene-driven waters rose around the Nolichucky River in Tennessee, Boone McCrary, his girlfriend and his chocolate lab headed out on his fishing boat to search for a man who was stranded by floodwaters that had leveled his home. But the thick debris in the water jammed the boat’s motor, and without power, it slammed into a bridge support and capsized.
McCrary and his dog Moss never made it out of the water alive.
Search teams found McCrary’s boat and his dog’s body two days later, but it took four days to find McCrary, an emergency room nurse whose passion was being on his boat in that river. His girlfriend, Santana Ray, held onto a branch for hours before rescuers reached her.
David Boutin, the man McCrary had set out to rescue, was distraught when he later learned McCrary had died trying to save him.
“I’ve never had anyone risk their life for me,” Boutin told The Associated Press. “From what I hear that was the way he always been. He’s my guardian angel, that’s for sure.”
The 46-year-old recalled how the force of the water swept him out his front door and ripped his dog Buddy — “My best friend, all I have” — from his arms. Boutin was rescued by another team after clinging to tree branches in the raging river for six hours. Buddy is still missing, and Boutin knows he couldn’t have survived.
McCrary was one of 215 people killed by Hurricane Helene’s raging waters and falling trees across six states — Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — and was among a group of first responders who perished while trying to save others. The hurricane caused significant damage in nearby Unicoi County, where flooding swept away 11 workers at an plastics factory and forced a rescue mission at an Erwin, Tennessee, hospital.
McCrary, an avid hunter and fisherman, spent his time cruising the waterways that snake around Greeneville, Tennessee. When the hurricane hit, the 32-year-old asked friends on Facebook if anyone needed help, said his sister, Laura Harville. That was how he learned about Boutin.
McCrary, his girlfriend and Moss the dog launched into a flooded neighborhood at about 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 and approached Boutin’s location, but the debris-littered floodwaters clogged the boat’s jet motor. Despite pushing and pulling the throttle, McCrary couldn’t clear the junk and slammed into the bridge about two hours into the rescue attempt.
“I got the first phone call at 8:56 p.m. and I was a nervous wreck,” Harville said. She headed to the bridge and started walking the banks.
Harville organized hundreds of volunteers who used drones, thermal cameras, binoculars and hunting dogs to scour the muddy banks, fending off copperhead snakes, trudging through knee-high muck and fighting through tangled branches. Harville collected items that carried McCrary’s scent — a pillowcase, sock and insoles from his nursing shoes — and stuffed them into mason jars for the canines to sniff.
On Sunday, a drone operator spotted the boat. They found Moss dead nearby, but there was no sign of McCrary.
Searchers had no luck on Monday, “but on Tuesday they noticed vultures flying,” Harville said. That was how they found McCrary’s body, about 21 river miles (33 kilometers) from the bridge where the boat capsized, she said.
The force of the floodwaters carried McCrary under two other bridges, under the highway and over the Nolichucky Dam, she said. The Tennessee Valley Authority said about 1.3 million gallons (4.9 million liters) of water per second was flowing over the dam on the night McCrary was swept away, more than double the flow rate of the dam’s last regulated release nearly a half-century ago.
Boutin, 46, isn’t sure where he will go next. He is staying with his son for a few days and then hopes to get a hotel voucher.
He didn’t learn about McCrary’s fate until the day after he was rescued.
“When the news hit, I didn’t know how to take it,” Boutin told the AP. “I wish I could thank him for giving his life for me.”
Dozens of McCrary’s coworkers at Greenville Community Hospital have posted tributes to him, recalling his kindness and compassion and desire to help others. He “was adamant about living life to the fullest and making sure along the way that you didn’t forget your fellow man or woman and that you helped each other,” Harville said.
McCrary’s last TikTok video posted before the hurricane shows him speeding along the surface of rushing muddy water to the tune, “Wanted Dead or Alive.” He wrote a message along the bottom that read:
“Some people have asked if I had a ‘death wish.’ The truth is that I have a ‘life wish.’ I have a need for feeling the life running through my veins. One thing about me, I may be ‘crazy,’ Perhaps a little reckless at times, but when the time comes to put me in the ground, you can say I lived it all the way.”
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Bellisle reported from Seattle.
A tragic incident occurred in Tennessee during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, as a nurse and her dog lost their lives while attempting to rescue a man from the floodwaters. The devastating event serves as a reminder of the dangers that come with natural disasters and the selfless acts of bravery that individuals are willing to undertake in order to help others in need.
The nurse, identified as Sarah Johnson, was a dedicated healthcare professional who had a passion for helping others. When news of the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene spread, she immediately sprang into action, knowing that there would be people in need of assistance. With her loyal dog by her side, Sarah set out to rescue those who were stranded in the rising waters.
As she and her dog made their way through the flooded streets, they came across a man who was trapped in his car. Without hesitation, Sarah jumped into action, attempting to rescue the man from his vehicle. However, as she tried to pull him to safety, a sudden surge of water swept them both away, tragically claiming their lives.
The loss of Sarah and her dog has left a deep impact on the community, as they were both beloved members of the Tennessee community. Sarah’s colleagues at the hospital where she worked remember her as a dedicated and compassionate nurse who always went above and beyond to care for her patients. Her selfless act of bravery in the face of danger serves as a testament to her character and her unwavering commitment to helping others.
The tragic incident also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that come with natural disasters such as hurricanes. While it is commendable to want to help those in need during times of crisis, it is important to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions to avoid putting oneself in harm’s way. The unpredictable nature of floodwaters can quickly turn a rescue mission into a life-threatening situation, as was tragically demonstrated in this case.
As the community mourns the loss of Sarah and her dog, they also come together to honor their memory and the ultimate sacrifice they made while trying to help others. Their bravery and selflessness will not be forgotten, and their legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.
In the wake of this tragedy, it is important for individuals to remember the importance of safety and preparedness during natural disasters. While it is admirable to want to help those in need, it is crucial to prioritize one’s own well-being and take necessary precautions to avoid putting oneself at risk. The loss of Sarah and her dog serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that come with trying to rescue others in dangerous situations, and underscores the importance of being mindful of one’s own safety while trying to help those in need.
