Two teenage brothers have been credited with rescuing a mother, her 11-year-old son and their three dogs after floodwaters left them stranded inside their Florida home.
Brittany Grant and her son, Nikoa Pastorius, were trapped in their Palm Bay home in Brevard County last week as historic rainfall caused severe flooding across Central Florida.
The water rose rapidly, eventually submerging more than two feet of the property and leaving the family with nowhere safe to go.
Grant, her son and their three rescue dogs were forced to climb onto the kitchen counter as the floodwater continued rising.
Grant shared a video on social media showing their desperate situation, explaining that they could not safely switch off the electricity because of the risk of electrocution.
Repeated Emergency Calls Fail to Bring Assistance
Unable to reach the home’s electrical unit, Grant contacted Florida Power & Light to request that the electricity be disconnected remotely.
However, the company informed her that it could not carry out the request remotely.
The mother also said she called 911 three times seeking emergency assistance but received no help.
Her appeal for assistance eventually reached two teenage brothers from the same neighbourhood, 17-year-old Lucas Marshall and 15-year-old Jonah Marshall.
After seeing Grant’s social media post, the teenagers decided to help rescue the stranded family.
Teenagers Use Paddleboard and Kayak to Reach Family
The brothers, together with another neighbour, made their way through the flooded neighbourhood using a paddleboard and a kayak borrowed from a resident.
Their first priority was getting Grant’s 11-year-old son out of the dangerous situation.
Lucas helped Nikoa climb onto the paddleboard while keeping him engaged in conversation to distract him during the rescue.
Speaking during a live interview with Click Orlando, Lucas recalled asking the boy about his name and how school was going.
He admitted that the operation was nerve-racking but said he felt they should help because they were physically capable of doing so.
The teenagers subsequently returned to rescue Grant and her three dogs, successfully getting all five family members to safety.
Jonah, 15, said they did not hesitate after learning that the family was in danger.
“They needed help and they were in trouble and in danger, we didn’t think about it, just went to help them,” he told Click Orlando.
Mother Expresses Gratitude After Rescue
Following the rescue, Grant and her son stayed with a friend because the flooding made it unsafe for them to return home.
In a social media update, she expressed gratitude to everyone who had assisted them during the ordeal.
She confirmed that all five of them, including the three dogs, were safe and dry, although she acknowledged that recovering from the incident would take considerable effort.
Grant later returned to the property with her son after the floodwaters began to recede.
Flood Damage Leaves Home in Need of Major Repairs
Despite their safe return, the family discovered that much of their household property had been destroyed by the floodwater.
Their furniture was irreparably damaged, while most of their personal belongings were ruined.
According to Grant’s friend, Lisa Darmana, the damage was extensive enough to require the entire house to be gutted.
Darmana explained on social media that approximately four feet of drywall had to be removed throughout the property as part of the restoration work.
Fundraiser Launched to Support Family’s Recovery
Following the extensive damage, Darmana organised an online fundraiser on Grant’s behalf to help cover the cost of repairs and replace the family’s destroyed belongings.
The fundraising effort is intended to support Grant and her son as they begin rebuilding their home and recovering from the devastating flooding.
The family remains grateful to the neighbours who came to their aid, particularly Lucas and Jonah Marshall, whose intervention helped bring them safely out of the flooded property.
