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Man stuck on rock, watches wife lose grip and tumble downstream

Posted at 10:14 PM, Jul 24, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-24 23:28:48-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- Flooding and power outages created major headaches for Richmond drivers and pedestrians Thursday afternoon.

In the raging waters of Reedy Creek, a man was stranded on a rock after watching his wife of four years lose her grip and tumble downstream.

"She wouldn't listen,” he said, not willing to divulge his name. “I told her not to do it."

She managed to catch a tree branch and pull herself to safety. Later, She told CBS-6 off-camera, and with her ankle taped up, that she had been scared and was lucky to be alive. She, like her husband, did not want to give her name.

Once she was safe, he asked her where their money and cigarettes were.

Off East Belt Boulevard, a different storm drama played out: people there were mopping up a mess, again. "Every time it rains, the gutter floods up over the curb and across the city sidewalk," said business owner John Dodson.

Adding to the difficulties of some, was the power outage at Gangster Garage.

Further down the street, cars pulling into the Circle Shopping Center across from Southside Plaza got quite a surprise. "Heavy rain is always a hazard for me," said Jesse Montague. As the rain came down harder and harder, he said he got worried. "I said, ‘uh oh.’ Once we went in we started floating."

Brenda Blount says she could barely see, and stopped too late to keep the nose of her car from sinking into the parking lot. "The city is gonna’ pay for this, ” Blount said. “My car is totaled. The drainage isn't working. It's clear. Look how much is standing."

Thursday’s major summer storm dumped inches of rain in a flash, creating plenty of rescue work with no serious injuries. For firefighters, it was a busy day at the office.

"Hey man, we are here and alive,” said the fearless, and unnamed, Reedy Creek reveler. “Now, I'm gonna’ go smoke me a cigarette."

PHOTOS: Powerful storms roll through Central Virginia

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