Flood survivor recalls hanging on trees for six hours, says he had ‘guardian angel’

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) – David Boutin was stuck in flood waters for six hours before being rescued when Hurricane Helene swept through the region. Tragically, one of the rescuers, Boone McCrary , lost his life while attempting to save Boutin.

On Sept. 27, the Nolichucky River flooded into Boutin’s home. He described seeing the water rise up his driveway. That’s when he went outside to pull his van to safety. Then, he went back inside to retrieve his dog “Buddy,” cell phone and wallet.

“When I went in the bedroom to get him [Buddy], it was ankle deep,” Boutin said. “Within a minute, it was up to my waist. And I went outside the house to try to get to a ladder to get on the roof. And the river just took us, took Buddy from my arms. I just went pinning along trees. Every time I hold on to a tree, it’d break and I’d just go downriver even further.”

Boutin was stranded in floodwaters for six hours before rescuers reached him.

“I didn’t think I was gonna get rescued,” Boutin said. “I couldn’t see where I was at. I didn’t know. All I knew is hold on to trees. And if I went out to the middle of the river, I wouldn’t have made it.”

The following day, Boutin learned that Boone McCrary, a rescuer, had gone missing while trying to save him .

McCrary’s family knew he was out saving people when they heard his boat had hit a bridge and capsized.

McCrary’s mother, Debbie Fisher, heard he was being rescued, so she went to check at Bird’s Bridge.

“They came up and I asked, ‘are you going to have to carry Boone up?’ So I thought maybe he was injured,” Fisher said. “They said this was Boone. But I said, ‘no, that’s not my Boone.’ And that’s when the nightmare really started because I thought he was being rescued.”

It was actually Boutin who was rescued, while McCrary’s body was discovered days later .

Boutin attended McCrary’s funeral service to pay his respects.

“It lifted a big weight off my shoulder, you know, walked up to his casket, put my hand on there and thanked him for risking his life for me,” Boutin said.

Boutin said he is praying for McCrary’s family and friends.

“I’m blessed,” Boutin said. “He’s my guardian angel. I wish it didn’t go down how it did.”

Boutin had no idea McCrary was trying to rescue him.

McCrary’s mother and sister said that’s just how courageous he was.

“My brother lived life to the fullest,” Laura Harville, McCrary’s sister, said. “He always put himself last and put others first. And I think that if you were to look on social media, you can see that from what others have said. One of his friends that would come and hunt with him, made a story on Tik-Tok and it was true. He’s just a good old boy. He’d give you the shirt off his back.”

Fisher agrees. She said all of the devastation, plus losing her son, is very traumatizing.

“It did my heart good to see all the people that he had touched and changed their lives and how much love and support he had showed them and kindness,” Fisher said. “It does my heart good, but I still would love to have Boone here with me. I woke up this morning, I decided it was going to be a better day because Boone would not be happy if I was just not together at all. I could see him saying to me Mom…”

“Don’t embarrass me,” Harville added.

“Don’t be crying and embarrassing me,” Fisher said. “And he’d also tell me [he would] say, ‘Mom, you better suck it up.'”

Fisher recounted her liver transplant last year and how much her son was there for her during that time.

Both McCrary’s mother and sister are grateful that Boutin is alive and was able to be rescued.

“His life is precious and I told him that we’re happy that he made it out because he was in dire straits, too,” Fisher said. “And I seen him rescued, and I’m thankful that he was saved. So Boone made these decisions, but I know without a doubt if he knew the outcome, he would make that decision again to help somebody.”

“No doubt, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would do it,” Harville added.

Harville said she is starting a non-profit in the memory of her brother called “Boone’s Brigade.” The aim will be to help others learn outdoor skills, like hunting, fishing and boating. Activities that Boone McCrary enjoyed.

McCrary was also an emergency room nurse at Greeneville Community East Hospital.

Harville and Fisher are thankful for all of the community’s support.

Fisher also believes it would be helpful if local law enforcement had a liaison to help families of missing people.

For Boutin, his house was completely destroyed. His property on Little Indian Creek Road consisted of three houses on a compound that belonged to him, his brother and his father. All three houses no longer stand. Belongings are scattered around the property, and many were washed away in the river. Eight vehicles are a total loss. Boutin spent 10 years, building his own home.

He also never found his dog, Buddy.

“For four years, he was my best friend,” Boutin said. “And he was just ripped from my arms and I couldn’t do [anything].”

Boutin sustained physical injuries from the night he was stuck in flood waters.

“I went to the hospital the next day because I was getting headaches real bad,” Boutin said. “And they said I had a concussion. I had a bruised chest and I also had a respiratory infection from the river. Still right now, I got migraines that won’t go away. No medical insurance, so I can’t go back to the doctor and get a follow-up.”

Boutin has also been grappling with the mental toll of the devastation.

“I have nightmares of that night,” Boutin said. “It’s hard, especially when the migraines wake [me] up in the morning. With bad migraines, but I still go to work. I have to, it’s the only way I’m going to rebuild. I just have to keep going one day at a time.”

Boutin expressed his desire to return to his property in some way, perhaps in a camper, houseboat or any kind of home. However, he’s still not sure.

“I love this place. It means everything to me,” Boutin said. “I did everything I could to make this place nice. And just within minutes, everything got torn away. A lot of years of work.”

Boutin is currently staying at his son’s house in Morristown. He has a donation page set up to help rebuild his life.

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