Four North Carolina roommates narrowly escape car stuck in Hurricane Helene floodwaters

Harrowing footage shows the moment four students narrowly escaped a drowning car as Hurricane Helene continues to wreak havoc in North Carolina.

Avery Paner, a public health major at Appalachian State University, and her three female roommates became trapped in her car along with her service dog Finn on September 27.

Cellphone video shows murky brown water quickly filling the vehicle as the foursome call for help and try to find a window breaker.

‘My car doesn’t run. We have to get out!’, Paner can be heard shouting in the video.

“We’re moving on and trying to get to higher ground as much as we can and we’re almost there and it’s in sight and my car starts to sink,” the 19-year-old said. CBS17.

Avery Paner, a public health professor at Appalachian State University (pictured) and her three roommates narrowly escaped a drowning car as Hurricane Helene continues to wreak havoc in North Carolina

Things started to get worse after a giant tree fell on top of their car, causing them to come to a standstill and not be able to open the windows due to the rising water level.

“We were trying to work quickly and safely, and we’re going down the main road that takes us to the top of the hill and a tree falls on top of my car.

“We’re all trying to get out of this car as quickly as possible because the water is now rising to about the window. It comes down to about my hip level.

“And we’re trying to look for a window breaker, which I had in my glove compartment, but no one could see, because the water is brown and cloudy and we’re getting deeper and deeper into this water. My car fills up much faster.’

Things started to take a turn for the worse after a giant tree fell on top of their car, causing them to come to a standstill and not be able to open the windows due to the rising water level

The murky water flooded the roads, causing motorists to change directions or abandon their vehicles

Paner later said she experienced a shock current that she said “completely swept her out from under her feet.”

But just before the situation worsened, the girls climbed into the front seat and started pushing open a door.

In a miraculous moment, a group of men saw them struggling to stay afloat and quickly rushed to push the car to a safer area.

“So everyone climbs into the front seat and all of us, all four girls, used all our girl power and we pushed this door open.

“And there’s about six or seven guys across the street running to our aid to try to push this car through the mud to higher ground.

“We all linked arms, and just as we passed the rip current, I was swept away from below and I was literally submerged in this water.

While the foursome escaped without injury, Finn came into contact with contaminated water and has been seriously ill ever since

‘And I am almost a victim of the wave; I am about to enter the water, and I am very grateful that one person happened to grab me by the arm and hold me in this water, otherwise I am very sure I would have drowned.

“I’m so grateful that I had these strangers who noticed that we needed help and were able to physically come and save us,” she said gratefully.

While the foursome escaped without injury, Finn came into contact with contaminated water and has been seriously ill ever since.

According to a GoFundMe, the service dog, who helps prevent heart problems for his owner, is currently in isolation at the emergency vet and may be suffering from leptospirosis.

From now on crowdfunding page has raised $5,198 of its $20,000 goal.