Video from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shows the rescue of a young teen floating on a fence through flood waters. CNN speaks with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, who assisted in the rescue.

Hillsborough County

Hurricane Milton has made landfall as a Category Three system, causing tornadoes and widespread damage across parts of Florida.

Hurricane Milton

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office conducted a water rescue operation, successfully saving a young teenager who was found floating on a piece of a fence amid floodwaters. The rescue operation was part of the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which caused significant flooding in the area. The Sheriff's office captured the rescue on video and shared it on social media, emphasizing the severity of the situation and the need for active water rescue efforts.

Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County was on the airboat assisting with the rescues and described the young boy, a 14-year-old, as frantically waving his arms to gain the attention of the rescuers. Sheriff Chronister recounted how the boy's mother had evacuated him to a safer area the night before, but he encountered unexpectedly deep floodwaters while walking home. Due to his limited swimming ability, the boy found himself in a precarious situation.

The teenager was visibly relieved and thankful upon his rescue, expressing gratitude by hugging the deputies who saved him. Sheriff Chronister noted that this incident was just one of over 200 rescues carried out by the team, highlighting the challenging conditions and extensive efforts made to ensure community safety during the flood.



Boy floating on piece of fence rescued from flood waters

We want to show you some incredible video we're getting from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. As we know, they've been conducting water rescues throughout the morning in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, and this is video they just posted to social media of a young boy that was apparently floating on a piece of fence, and officers, deputies I should say, were coming by him. He apparently gets their attention, and as you can see there, calls out for them. They approach him, and they are able to get him out of the water safely. Some incredible video. Again, a 14-year-old boy on a piece of fence being dragged out of the floodwaters of Hurricane Milton. We actually want to talk to the Sheriff of Hillsborough County now. Sheriff Chad Chronister joins us live. Sheriff, you put this video out on social media. I'm wondering what goes through your mind when you see footage like this. Listen, I just happened to be on the airboat for that one. There's over 200 rescues we've done and are still actively conducting. We just offloaded a family as I'm standing here by the flooded water. He was waving us down, flagging us down. Most people were saying hello. He was frantically wailing his arms. We went over, and it literally was like a scene out of a castaway movie, how he's hanging on for dear life. His mom evacuated him to a safer area last night. He was walking home, didn't realize the water was going to get as flooded, as deep as it did. He's not a good swimmer, and hence the rescue. He was visibly shaken. I mean, he hugged us. He was just so grateful. We took him to some dry land, but just one of many rescues we've been conducting today.

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