Family Dog Rescues 11-Year-Old Boy from Mudslide During Hurricane Helene

An 11-year-old boy in North Carolina is crediting his family’s dog, Tucker, for saving his life after a mudslide caused by Hurricane Helene trapped him under 12 feet of debris.

Jamie Parker was at home with his grandparents and younger sister when floodwaters from the hurricane triggered a massive mudslide that engulfed their house near Asheville. Jamie was thrown into a pile of rubble, completely hidden from view. However, it was Tucker’s persistent barking that led rescuers to his location.

“I was screaming, but no one could hear me,” Jamie told WCNC Charlotte. “Tucker stayed right above me and just kept barking. I knew he wasn’t going to leave me.”

Jamie’s grandfather, Michael Johns, initially thought Tucker was panicking. “He was barking non-stop, and I thought he was just scared,” Michael said. “It turns out he had actually found Jamie under the debris.”

Rescuers arrived and used a chainsaw to cut through the wreckage, eventually freeing the boy. Firefighters credited Tucker’s refusal to move from the pile with helping them locate Jamie quickly.

Tucker the Shelter Dog Becomes a Hero

Jamie and his sister Jemma had adopted Tucker from a shelter years earlier, just days before the dog was scheduled to be euthanized. “He was the last dog left, and we knew we had to save him,” Jamie recalled.

Now, Tucker has repaid that act of kindness by saving Jamie’s life during the mudslide. “He rescued me,” Jamie said.

Medical Concerns and Community Support

Jamie was flown to Atrium Health Cabarrus for treatment due to trauma sustained during the incident. Although he has since been medically cleared, his family remains at the hospital, as they lost their home and all their belongings in the hurricane.

A nurse at the hospital has been fostering Tucker, and members of the local community have stepped in to support the family. To support their rebuilding efforts, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office has launched a fundraiser, emphasizing that the family was just $4,000 away from fully owning their home when the disaster occurred.

“We’ve had so much support from people offering food and shelter,” Michael Johns said. “It’s been amazing to see how people come together in times of need.”

Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation across North Carolina, with flooding, mudslides, and high winds leaving many families displaced. For Jamie Parker and his family, though, Tucker’s bravery has brought a ray of hope amid the chaos.