In Asheville, North Carolina, the family dog has been credited with rescuing an 11-year-old child from a mountain landslide after Hurricane Helene.
Jamie Parker and his dog Tucker have always had a special bond. Years ago, Jamie and his sister had used their allowances to pay for their rescue pup’s adoption fee just days before Tucker had been scheduled to be euthanized. Tucker had been the last dog at the shelter’s adoption event; the moment he saw Jamie and his sister he ran right over to them. The rest is history and lots of love, fun and adventures.
Jamie and Tucker had been at home with their grandparents, along with his sister Jemma, when a landslide started to slam into their home. The children had been on the couch when the walls started to crumble.
According to WcncNews, Jamie remembered going flying into the mud landing under the stairs in a 12-foot pile of rubble while his grandmother ended up on the roof. He screamed for help, but no one answered. The child couldn’t see daylight because he was so far under all of the debris and was scared he would soon run out of oxygen to breathe
It was scary. I thought i was all alone. I thought they went down. I thought my family had died.
When their grandmother Donna Johns yelled for her family and no one answered, she was devastated. She had no way of knowing if anyone had survived the terrible disaster. Fortunately, Donna spotted Michael Johns, the children’s grandfather soon spotted his granddaughter, but where was Jamie?
Everyone had been screaming to find Jamie, but no one could hear him. It had been pouring rain, visibility was limited and more panic was setting in.
And then there was their rescue pup Tucker. The dog had found his best human and was directly above where the boy had been buried. Tucker whined and barked demanding attention. He wouldn’t move from the spot.
He stayed on top of the pile and was barking away, and i just thought he was going crazy. I didn’t realize he had located the boy!
Firefighters arrived and used a chainsaw to dig the child out of the rubble. Jamie was rescued, and he owes his life to his dog who he said “his big ears and a big nose” were able to find him.
Yes indeed – the children saved Tucker and Tucker saved Jamie.
Jamie was flown to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital where he is being treated. One of the nurses is fostering Tucker.
The family’s home was destroyed. Kind hearted nurses at Atrium Health have been spending their own money to buy the family basic necessities and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s office has started a fundraiser to help them get back on their feet.
What a hero you are Tucker.
(Photos via Atrium Health Levine Children’s, Screenshots via video Wcnc News)
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