A devastating tragedy struck a small North Carolina town when 75-year-old Bruce Tipton was swept away by severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Despite clinging to a tree for hours and calling out for help, neither his family nor his neighbors could reach him in time.

According to The New York Times, the harrowing incident occurred on Friday, September 27, when Tipton was at his home in Marshall. The powerful storm surge from the French Broad River caused floodwaters to rush beneath him, leaving him with no time to escape.

Annie Meadows, Tipton’s cousin, recalled the heartbreaking moment. “One minute he’s standing in the front doorway, and the next minute, the trailer is gone,” she said.

Desperate Attempts to Rescue Tipton

As the floodwaters raged, family, friends, and neighbors stood by helplessly for nearly seven hours while Tipton held onto a nearby tree. Though many could not see him through the storm, they could hear his desperate cries for help.

Tipton, a Navy veteran, had lived in the small community of Marshall, which has a population of around 800 people, for most of his life. Familiar with the region’s unpredictable weather, he initially refused to evacuate despite warnings from local firefighters.

However, Assistant Chief Mitch Hampton of the Walnut Volunteer Fire Department admitted that Hurricane Helene was unlike anything the town had ever experienced before. “This was something none of us had ever seen,” he said.

A Rescue Attempt That Fell Short

In a desperate bid to reach Tipton, Meadows’ fiancé attempted to wade through the floodwaters with a rope tied around his waist. However, as The Times reported, the rope was too short to reach the tree where Tipton was clinging. When emergency responders arrived, they determined that entering the water was too dangerous and assured the family they would return at dawn to attempt a rescue.

Sadly, before any rescue efforts could be carried out, Tipton was swept away by the raging currents just before 11 p.m. local time.

Assistant Chief Hampton, who had seen many disasters over the years, called the incident one of the most difficult of his career. “That was the worst one,” he said. “We were unable to reach him.”

The Devastating Toll of Hurricane Helene

By Tuesday, October 1, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene had claimed at least 152 lives across six states, according to the Associated Press. North Carolina suffered the highest number of fatalities, accounting for more than half of the total deaths.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told PEOPLE on October 1 that North Carolina remained in the midst of an “active rescue mission,” with some areas still cut off due to significant road damage. Emergency responders continued working tirelessly to assist those trapped by the storm’s destruction.

Criswell warned residents that dangers remained even after the storm had passed. “There are still a lot of risks out there,” she emphasized. “High river levels, fallen trees, downed electrical lines, and hazardous debris continue to pose serious threats.”

Lessons in Preparedness and Caution

The heartbreaking loss of Bruce Tipton serves as a sobering reminder of the power of nature and the importance of heeding evacuation warnings. Despite Tipton’s experience with storms, Helene’s unprecedented strength proved deadly.

Officials continue to urge residents to stay vigilant and prioritize safety. “People need to stay informed,” Criswell stressed. “They should be aware of their surroundings and take caution. The aftermath of a storm can be just as deadly as the storm itself, so it’s crucial to look out for one another.”

As the community of Marshall grieves the loss of one of its own, Tipton’s tragic fate underscores the unpredictable and often unforgiving nature of extreme weather events. His story stands as a poignant call for preparedness, resilience, and solidarity in the face of disaster.