A South Carolina couple were found by responders hugging each other after they were killed when a tree from Hurricane Helene crashed onto their home.
Marcia Savage, 74, and her husband Jerry Savage, 78, were in bed together when a tree on their property fell on to their bedroom in Beech Island.
Before the fatal incident, their grandson, John Savage, recalled hearing branches snap before rushing to check on his grandparents “They were both fine, the dog was fine,” John said.
But moments later, the storm brought one of its most devastating blows. A “boom” sound was followed by one of the largest trees on the property landing on top of the bedroom with tremendous force.
When emergency responders arrived, they found the couple embracing.
“All you could see was ceiling and tree,” he said. “I was just going through sheer panic at that point.”
“My grandpa apparently heard the tree snap beforehand and rolled over to try and protect my grandmother,” he continued. The family believes that in their final moments, Jerry tried to shield his wife from the impact.
The two were teenage sweethearts and married for over 50 years.
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Hurricane Helene has become one of the deadliest storms in recent U.S. history.
The Category 4 event unleashed strong winds, heavy rain, and mudslides, cutting off power to millions and leaving communities reeling from its aftermath.
North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama have all had major disasters declared.
The Savages are among more than 150 people killed by Helene. So far, the toll is highest across North and South Carolina.
Dozens of people died after becoming victims of trees that fell on homes or cars. The dead include two South Carolina firefighters killed when a tree fell on their truck.
In Georgia, a 27-year-old mother and her month old twin babies, were all found crushed by a tree in their home in a manner similar to the Savages. An 89-year-old woman was killed when trees fell on her house elsewhere in the same county.
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Retired electrician and carpenter Jerry Savage was known for his work ethic and energy, according to his family. He often came out of retirement to take on new projects.
His wife, Marcia, a retired bank teller, was active in their church, where she loved to sing gospel songs. “She had a beautiful voice,” said their granddaughter, Katherine Savage.
The couple had been married for over 50 years and were remembered by family and friends as generous and kind. “They loved each other to their dying day,” said John Savage.
Their close-knit family, including four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, often gathered at the couple’s home for holidays and celebrations.
Daughter Tammy Estep will cherish her mother’s Thanksgiving turkey dinner, with banana pudding for dessert.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover the couple’s funeral expenses, and the community has been expressing their condolences on social media, describing the Savages as humble and loving individuals.
Estep said their love was “immediate, and it was everlasting.”
“They loved each other to their dying day,” John Savage said.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
