WATCH: Hero Reporter, Crewman Facilitate Saving of Man’s Life in Houston

Journalists Aren’t Enemies of the American People

Donald Trump has frequently attacked the media, from the campaign trail on, labeling news he finds unfavorable as “fake” and going so far as to insist that the free press was the “enemy of the American People.”

But while the President of the United States may believe that, one reporter has proven it untrue. As fallout from Hurricane Harvey continues in Houston, with rainfall that could reach the highest levels ever recorded in Texas, KHOU 11 reporter Brandi Smith and photographer Mario Sandoval have used their roles in the media to facilitate the saving of one man’s life.

According to the KHOU, Smith and Sandoval were covering the catastrophe on the local Beltway 8, near a toll road, when they saw a flooded truck with a man inside. The reporter urged the man, which the station identified as Robert, not to try and swim to safety.

When a Harris County Sheriff truck towing a boat drove by, Smith flagged the truck down and alerted the authorities that the truck driver needed assistance. Some of the exchange can be seen below:

That astounding moment was captured on the air, seen below:

As The Daily Beast reported:

“There is water filling his cab and I’m trying not to break your eardrums as I scream,” Smith told viewers as she beckoned down to the driver. “Sir, there is a boat here!”

As the sheriff’s officials prepared to put their boat in the water, one of them told Smith that a truck driver in the same location last year died when he was stranded in flood waters.

“We had to dive for him because he passed away and went underwater,” he said.

“Sir, they’re putting the boat in just now! They are on their way!” Smith yelled.

She turned back to viewers, her voice cracking. “I cannot imagine how terrifying it would be to be in that place right now. Put yourself in that place: your car is filling with water. Help is on the way, he is incredibly lucky.”

“I just thank God that you guys were right here to get me and put me back on land safely,” Robert told Smith and the deputies, KHOU reported. “I appreciate you.”

Information about helping those in Houston—or getting help if you’re in Houston—can be found here.

To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.