#HurricaneHarvey: Photo of mother and baby's rescue becomes symbol of storm

The photo by AP photographer David J. Phillip of mother Catherine Pham and her 13 months old baby’s rescue have also become a symbol of storm.

In the photo, little Aiden Pham, swaddled in a blanket nestled asleep in his mother’s arms as they were carried by police officer Daryl Hudeck as floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey surged around them in southwest Houston.

“I was just keeping an eye out and as soon as I saw the SWAT team member carrying her and then seeing the baby, I just couldn’t believe that baby was wrapped up in there and not crying,” photographer David Phillip, 51, said of the moment Sunday afternoon when his lens found the trio.

“It was just tender. It was very special.” he added.

Phillip said the woman and child were rescued along with the baby’s father from their home in the city’s Meyerland section, where water reached many roofs.

By Monday, the image had quickly become a symbol of the storm and rescue efforts, featured across the web and many front pages.

The Phams, carried to a police staging point at a high spot in the road, were quickly whisked away, giving Phillip just a minute or two to get their names and witness their relief.

“House is completely flooded, but at least we are all together,” Catherine Pham posted on her Facebook page late Sunday. “We are so thankful that God was looking over us today!”

Soon after the Phams were rescued, Phillip said he broke away to transmit the photos. It’s a good thing, too. Not long after, a boat he was on hit an object underwater, probably a submerged car, and the photographer was pitched backward into the water. His leg was scraped by the boat’s outboard motor before fire department rescuers could pull him on board. One of his cameras and all the images it contained were lost.

Source: AP