Family of 4 tragically killed after getting in car to escape hurricane floodwaters
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: WRAL/North Buncombe Elementary PTO
A North Carolina family tragically lost their lives while trying to escape a hurricane.
Hurricane Helene hit parts of the US on 26 September, and continued to wreak havoc across South-eastern states until the 29th.
The aftermath has been catastrophic, with some towns being almost completely destroyed.
Some of the worst hit places include Chimney Rock, North Carolina, and Steinhatchee, on Florida's Gulf Coast.
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At the time of writing, around 130 people are said to have died as a result of the hurricane - a number that's expected to rise, as many people still remain missing.
Four of those who have confirmed to have been killed in Hurricane Helene is Alison Wisely, her sons Felix, nine, and Lucas, seven, and her fiancé Knox Petrucci.
The family have been described as 'the most beautiful souls to walk this Earth'.
Alison, Knox, and her sons lived in North Carolina's Green Mountains and attempted to flee their home on September 27, but as they drove through the floodwaters, their car began to float.
They then got out of the car to go back to their home, but were tragically swept away into the Toe River, WRAL reported.
Alison, Felix and Lucas' bodies were first to be recovered, while Knox's body wasn't found until October 7.
A GoFundMe has been sent up in honor of the young family ahead of their memorial service on November 9 - a day that should have been Alison and Knox's wedding day.
So far, over $65,000 has been raised by kindhearted donators, which is just shy of its $70,000 target.
Set up by Briana Yarbrough and Sarah Sheahan, the main beneficiary will be Felix and Luacs' father, Lance Wisely.
In the fundraiser's bio, Alison is described as 'brilliant and wise', while Knox was said to have 'moved through life with authenticity and boundless love and acceptance'.
The GoFundMe page creators went on to write of nine-year-old Felix: "Beloved, curious, precocious Felix wanted to know everything about the world. He delighted in all things magical and loved to talk about the unknown. He and his mother recently had a lot of fun producing Beyond Legends, a family-friendly podcast about cryptids, folklore, and the supernatural.
"He loved all the creatures of the Earth and beyond, even the ones others don’t believe in. He was fascinated by weather in general and tornadoes and hurricanes in particular."
They added of Lucas: "Sweet Lucas brightened his family and friend’s days with his humor, kindness, and caring nature. He loved exploring the outdoors and had an incredible imagination.
"Most often sporting superhero garb and all things sparkly, Lucas never failed to make the grown-ups in his life laugh. He gave the best cuddles and loved cows of every kind."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.
To donate to the American Red Cross, which helps provide food, supplies, shelter and emotional support to victims of crisis you can donate here.