Dramatic moment journalist stops broadcast to save elderly man from raging flood waters
THIS is the incredible moment a news reporter rescued an elderly man trapped in high flood waters during a live broadcast.
Texas news reporter saves man from sinking car on live TV in Houston
Steve Campion was just about to go live with a report on the historic flooding hitting Texas when he saw the vulnerable old man trapped inside his sinking car.
Mr Campion immediately urged the man to get out of his submerged car and swim away to safety as fast as possible.
But, as the man struggled to escape, Mr Campion dove to the rescue and the pair watched as his car sank moments later, becoming completely submerged in the high flood waters.
Mr Campion has since been hailed as a hero after he waded into the dangerous flood waters to rescue the man, known only as Andy.
The local fire department even asked if Mr Campion "wanted a new job".
Mr Campion and his cameraman yelled at the driver to swim
The news journalist for ABC-13 was about to report on the heavy flooding that has struck Houston in recent days and claimed at least two lives.
The vigilant reporter first witnessed two other cars driving into the flooded intersection near the overpass, where they both quickly became submerged.
He then saw Andy's vehicle attempting to drive through the Houston flood waters, not realising how deep it was.
Steve Campion was just about to go live with a report on the historic flooding hitting Texas
Dude, you've got to get out of the car. You've got to get out! Leave the car, swim!
Mr Campion and his cameraman yelled at the driver to swim, which he hesitated to do at first.
The reporter yelled: "Dude, you've got to get out of the car. You've got to get out! Leave the car, swim!"
As the man started swimming, the valiant reporter headed into the waist-deep water himself to help bring him to land.
With the microphone still running, the quick-thinking broadcaster began to interview the victim
With the mictrophone still running, the quick-thinking broadcaster began to interview the flood victim.
Andy explained he didn’t expect the water to be so deep and he stayed in the car at first to try and reverse after getting stuck.
He also confirmed that he was not injured and "felt okay", just moments before his own car slipped below the water's surface.
The man struggled to escape his vehicle
Meanwhile, record flooding had forced the closure of city offices, suspended public transit and cancelled more than 400 flights.
Authorities have urged commuters tos tay at home, while more than one million students had a day off and 110,000 homes lost electricity.
Nearly 20 inches of rain have been dumped in the Houston area, leaving several roads impassable and stranding drivers.