Young Father Risked His Life To Save Strangers From Rising Floodwaters.

November 19, 2024 by By Cathy Stack

Wilmington, North Carolina - Kenji Bowen, and his girlfriend Caitlin Cahill were driving home with their newborn when they came upon a frightening sight. They watched in disbelief as a nearby truck got stuck in deep floodwater and was quickly being submerged underwater. The helpless couple trapped inside the sinking vehicle yelled for help. Kenji quickly acted. He stopped his car and ran out towards the danger. He risked his own life to rescue the strangers from the deadly floodwaters.

Driving home with their newborn daughter during a tropical storm this September, Kenji Bowen and his girlfriend, Caitlin Cahill, came upon a frightening sight. They watched in disbelief as a nearby truck began to sink in deep floodwater.

The couple trapped inside frantically shouted for help, and Kenji acted quickly. He parked the vehicle in a safe spot and ran toward the trapped couple’s truck. He risked his own life as he helped the strangers escape the deadly floodwaters.

Kenji had earned the nickname “Flash” in high school for his standout speed and athletic ability, which he put to good use in this emergency.

Because of the storm, Kenji and Caitlin had avoided heavily flooded and high-risk roads and chose alternative routes on their way home.

“We turned down Woodyard Road and got to the place where it was flooded,” Kenji recalled. “There was no way I was going through [floodwaters] with my family, so I got ready to turn around.”

At that moment, Kenji spotted a pickup truck heading the opposite direction and directly toward the dangerously high floodwaters. He tried to flash his lights at the driver to encourage him to turn around, but the driver couldn’t see the warning.

Too late, the driver realized that he could not make it through the deep water. His tires began to spin when he tried to drive in reverse. The forceful and rapidly rising water caused the truck to flip on its side and begin moving toward a ditch full of even more treacherous rushing water. To Kenji and Caitlin’s shock, the truck began to sink.

Kenji personally knew someone who passed away under similar tragic circumstances during hurricane Florence in 2018, and he was determined to prevent a similar tragedy. He knew the couple’s survival hinged on a quick escape from the vehicle and that waiting for emergency responders would not be an option.

Kenji courageously waded into the water toward the truck in spite of not knowing how to swim.

“I didn’t care if I couldn’t swim," he said. "I didn’t think about it until I got to the truck. That water was flowing stronger than anything I had ever seen.”

Once Kenji reached the vehicle, he grabbed hold of the bumper to steady himself. He then carefully moved over to the door. He reached the trapped woman’s side first and helped her crawl out of the car window. He and Caitlyn then assisted the woman up the grassy bank to dry land.

Kenji then swam back to the vehicle to help the driver and his dog just as the truck began to submerge completely.

Kenji and Caitlin said they were grateful to have been in the right place in the right time.

The Foundation for a Better Life and PassItOn believe that Kenji Bowen is a hero for risking his own life to rescue strangers. His action is a great example of the value of courage. Please help us honor Kenji and Caitlin by sharing their inspiring story.

Pease tell us about your everyday hero. The heroes among us are ordinary people whose actions leave a lasting and positive impact in their communities and demonstrate the potential in all of us. Their heroic acts uphold our shared values. Help honor these individuals by creating a billboard and sharing their story at: www.passiton.com/your-billboards/create