Day, a former coal miner who lives in Hindman, Knott County, mentioned he was unaware of what was taking place within the area till he obtained the message saying the youngsters wanted assist getting out of their home.
“I did not know what they was speaking about, then I went exterior,” Day advised CNN. “You heard lots of people screaming and begging for anybody to assist.”
Day and his spouse, Krystal, had no boat, so that they waded via the water to assist save the 5 youngsters and two moms who have been caught on the roof of their house.
“At 3 o’clock within the morning, I used to be in that water with my spouse. I put a toddler below every arm and one round my neck and took them again to my home. The oldest little one was holding a small canine,” Day mentioned.
After Day and his spouse rescued the youngsters and the 2 ladies, he set his sights on rescuing his former highschool English instructor, Ella Prater, and his second grade instructor, Irma Gayheart, who each lived close by.
“I simply stored pacing backwards and forwards as a result of I noticed the water rising and I knew my two former lecturers have been in all probability trapped of their homes,” Day mentioned. “It was heartbreaking.”
He then enlisted the assistance of three different neighbors to assist test on his lecturers, who each reside alone, in response to Day.
Once they noticed Prater, Day mentioned they held her “by each aspect of her arms and by no means regarded again. We mentioned, ‘We’ve to go.'”
It took Gayheart a couple of minutes to reply the door, however when she did, she advised him she was okay, however had been sitting on her kitchen counter high watching the water rise.
“I wasn’t going to go away her there as a result of she’s a particular girl to me. You may inform by taking a look at her face that she was drained,” Day mentioned. “She spent the evening on the kitchen counter high and the water was up by the counter high.”
With the assistance of his neighbors, Day was capable of reunite each lecturers with their households, who have been ready for any updates about their whereabouts.
“These are two of essentially the most particular ladies you will meet in your life, and after they present you’re keen on, they present you real love. They really care about everybody that is round them and that caught with me my complete life,” Day mentioned when explaining why he risked his life to rescue his lecturers.
The ordeal has been emotionally draining, however he is glad the youngsters and former lecturers are protected, Day advised CNN.
