‘Miracle’: Rock Hill man reassures family with ‘thumb up’ after tree toppled their home

ROCK HILL, S.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) – A Rock Hill man ends Friday with a very different perspective than he had in the morning when he woke up beneath a tree in his bed during severe weather.

“By the grace of God, I am the recipient of a miracle today,” said David Hamner, about 15 minutes after returning home from a surprisingly short hospital stay. “Even the doctors, when we got there, they were kind of shaking their head that things weren’t more serious, and so I’m very grateful and thankful.”

At about 6 a.m. Friday, Hamner, his wife, and their three daughters were asleep at the home on Poinsett Drive when the tree crashed through the roof into the master bedroom.

A Charlotte Fire Department photo captured him giving a “thumb up” as he was rescued after some two hours with a towering oak tree lying on his chest. CFD was one of several local agencies assisting in the effort.

Hamner says the gesture was to reassure his loved ones, who all made it out of the house safely.

“I knew she was upset and concerned, and I was mainly just for [my wife], a little bit for the rescuers let them know ‘I’m okay, do what you got to do,’” he explained.

“That’s exactly what it was,” says Deputy Trent Faris, public information officer for the York County Sheriff’s Office. “When you see something like that, you fear the worst, but you hope for the best. And we’re glad the entire family got out safe.”

Throughout Friday afternoon, neighbors stopped to show their support, relieved that Hamner was okay. The family, still in shock, made plans to stay with friends.

One look at the structure and you may find it implausible that Hamner has sore ribs but no severe injuries.

You might think he’s one lucky guy, but he says it more than good fortune. David admits the painful hours of waiting for emergency workers to remove the tree from his body made him wonder about his mortality.

“I did have a few conversations with God,” Hamner said. “There was a moment or two when I was questioning ‘Is this really it?’”

He believes a higher power intervened.

To rescuers, folks on social media, and neighbors, his “thumb up” was an inspiring show of strength.

So much so, that there’s a good chance many would give him “two thumbs up.”

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