When it comes to our children, we’ll stop at nothing to ensure they are safe. If we find ourselves in a precarious situation, we might even develop a sort of superhuman strength or ability that allows us to save their lives. When Andre Randles and his 1-year-old son, Luca, became trapped in their car during a flood, the father, who doesn’t know how to swim, somehow saved them both. Now, he’s being hailed a hero.
According to the BBC, Randles and Luca were driving in West Yorkshire on November 23 when their car began to flood. The father knew no matter what, he had to save his son’s life. Miraculously, they both survived.
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Randles' car wound up submerged because of a detour.
He told the BBC that a road closure forced him to turn onto Woodhouse Road, where a dip in the road that was a lot bigger than expected caused his car to fill with water.
“As soon as I saw danger, saw the water coming into the car and we were no longer floating and starting to sink, something switched in me,” he told the BBC.
The car began to become submerged, and he grabbed his son. “I thought I needed to get out and get Luca out,” he said.
Local residents helped the father and son.
They offered the family a warm place to stay and dry off while they waited for emergency crews to arrive. “I was trying to get him somewhere safe as quickly as possible,” Randles said.
His partner, Paige Newsome, shared her gratitude. “It could’ve been a completely different outcome. We could not be sitting here with both of them, so I’m very grateful to Andre. I’m very proud of him and of how fast-thinking he was,” she told the BBC.
A witness took a terrifying picture of the family's car.
Ivan Gee shared the photo in the Todmorden Flood Facebook group. Randles’ car is nearly completely submerged in the photo.
Newsome shared the image on Facebook with the caption, “This is our car, such a scary experience for Andre having to pull himself and our 11-month-old baby out of the car windows, whilst the water was flooding into the car,” she wrote. “Calderdale Council need to sort this out ASAP! They have been getting notified about this part of Woodhouse Road multiple times by the owners of the house next to where our car is parked. I cannot thank those owners enough for taking Andre and Luca into their home and helping them.”
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Loved ones couldn't believe their eyes.
Friends shared well wishes with the family. One wrote, “OMG PAIGE!!!! I’m so happy Andre and Luca are safe. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Stay safe.”
“Oh my goodness , that is absolutely terrifying Paige. I’m so glad they’re both safe now. Give Luca a big kiss and a cuddle from me,” another comment reads.
One friend asked how it happened, writing, “Omg it’s just rising so so fast. How deep was it when he drove through? Did he just not think it was as deep as it was or did it just suddenly flow across??? This is so scary, just glad they’re safe.”
Newsome replied, “it just looked like low water (a big puddle), but there is a dip in the road that you can’t see because of the water if that makes sense.”
