17-year-old Recalls Dramatic Rescue from Flood Waters

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The teen first spotted by SkyNEWS 9 HD Pilot Mason Dunn is thanking everyone who helped save her. Raquel Dawson shared her story only hours after a dramatic rescue from rapidly rising waters near her Oklahoma City home.

"I started shaking really bad while I was swimming, and I thought I was going to pass out," said Dawson. "I thought I was going to die."

Dawson recalled the events that took place when she decided to help a woman off Sooner Road who was stranded in her car.

"She was struggling. I just have this thing where if I see someone in trouble I have to go try and help," said the 17-year old.

Dawson was walking to work when the floods also swept her away.

"The current just got stronger and the water got deeper and I ended up going from tree to tree trying to get to the road," said Dawson.

Thankfully Dawson is an experienced swimmer who has taken numerous swimming classes. She said that's how she was able to stay afloat for so long.

Rescue crews in the area frantically searched for Dawson who was eventually spotted by Pilot Mason Dunn in SkyNEWS 9 HD. With his help, crews were finally able to get Dawson to solid ground, even after the first attempt ended with an overturned rescue boat.

Dawson was checked out at a hospital before she was taken back home and that's when she met Mason Dunn.

"It's good to see you," said Dawson as she embraced Mason Dunn.

Dawson told Mason it was a relief to see him in the sky, because she had been there for nearly two hours before she was spotted. The entire time this was happening, Dawson's family was at home watching the events unfold on live television.

"We couldn't believe it," said her brother Evan. "We were in the dark about what was happening and then suddenly we saw our sister on NEWS 9."

"We had a lot of prayers," said her mother Barbara Dawson. "We knew it was in God's hands".

The Dawsons say they're grateful for Mason's work and for all those who risked their lives on the ground.