### Wedding Rehearsal Turns Heroic Amid North Carolina Floods

In a remarkable display of bravery and community spirit, the attendees of a wedding rehearsal in western North Carolina paused their celebrations to save a woman trapped in floodwaters following Hurricane Helene. Eddie Hunnell, father of the groom, sprang into action after learning of Leslie Worth’s dire situation.

The drama unfolded near an inn in Grassy Creek, North Carolina. Hearing of Leslie's predicament, Hunnell requested a life jacket, rope, and an oar from the inn's owner. Alongside him was Leslie's husband, Phil Worth, who explained that his wife was stranded inside their house with no means of escape.

Utilizing a canoe, Hunnell and Phil made their first attempt to reach Leslie but were thwarted by the fast-moving waters. With the house's structural integrity in jeopardy, their desperation heightened. Suddenly, the roof of another house, dislodged by the flood, crashed into the Worths' home. This impact caused significant damage and made Leslie’s situation even more precarious.

As Leslie stood waist-deep in water amidst the debris, attendees from the wedding rehearsal urged her to jump. Battling strong currents and high winds, Hunnell took the decisive step of jumping into the water. Describing his thought process, he said, "I was out of ideas, and I just thought, my wife's going to kill me, and I jumped."

Swimming to Leslie, Hunnell grabbed her life vest and instructed her to kick towards the shore with all her might. The pair were soon caught by slower-moving waters and safely reached dry land, greeted by tears and relief from those waiting ashore.

Despite the traumatic events, the wedding went on as planned the next day, albeit with some modifications. With power outages and numerous guests unable to attend, the ceremony proceeded with the help of over 100 candles lighting the venue and neighbors using chainsaws to clear the roads.

Reflecting on the series of events, Hunnell said, "Everything before the wedding was somewhat of a disaster. The wedding turned out great." The Worths were even invited to the rehearsal dinner, arriving in the clothes they wore during the rescue.

In a time of crisis, the actions of Eddie Hunnell and the community serve as a testament to human resilience and compassion.