Severe weather across the midwest and south over the weekend has left 11 dead, dozens injured and thousands displaced from their homes. Heavy rain, widespread flooding and harmful tornadoes have left a path of destruction.
According to the National Weather Service, at least four tornadoes touched down in east Texas on Saturday. Among those who survived are two young children, thanks to some good samaritans who worked relentlessly to save them, believing through it all in the power of prayer.
In an incredible video captured by a man named Tom Mitchell, a truck can be seen flipped upside down and stuck in rushing water.
Inside: Phillip and Emily Ocheltree, along with their two children—a toddler and an infant nearing death.
Tom says he was not strong enough to be of any help in the rescue, but several others were, and thank God they stopped to help. The water was flowing too quickly for anyone to get the doors of the truck open.
All of a sudden, the video shows a man in a red shirt and baseball cap carrying a limp infant through the rushing water. “The infant is white, going blue-ish grey,” Tom can be heard saying. That’s when he jumped in where he was able to help.
Putting the phone in his pocket, Tom began to resuscitate the infant.
“This baby is gonna die if we don’t start CPR fast,” Tom yells, over the storm and tornado sirens. “Having a negative feeling coming over me. This baby may not make it, this baby may not make it. No reaction, nothing is happening.”
That’s when a woman on scene comes over to the truck bed where Tom had the baby. Over his shoulder, the woman begins to pray.
“Dear Jesus, please let this baby breathe. Dear Jesus, please let this baby breathe.”
Tom told local news that with the first prayer she spoke, he could feel a response from the child.
“In the name of Jesus, let him breathe Lord. Give that baby breath, Lord!”
Within a few seconds, you can hear someone yell “she is breathing!” through all of the chaos.