Amazing story of survival after Toms River man leaves ‘farewell’ note
By Ron Recinto | The Lookout – 14 hrs ago
(WOBM)Thankfully the letter writer, identified only as Mike, was reunited with his father, Tony. And both will have a lifetime to retell his tale of survival.
So will Christine Treglia, who found this unsettling note when she returned home, which she had evacuated before the storm:
Who ever reads this I'm DIEING — I'm 28 yrs old my name is Mike. I had to break in to your house. I took blankets off the couch. I have hypothermia. I didn't take any thing. A wave thru me out of my house down the block. I don't think I'm going to make it. The water outside is 10ft deep at least. There's no res[c]ue.Treglia posted this response on Facebook along with a link to the story about the note:
Tell my dad I love him and I tryed get[t]ing out. His number is ###-###-#### his name is Tony. I hope u can read this I'm in the dark. I took a black jacket too. Goodbye. God all mighty help me.
"This was my house that Mike found refuge in. We found this letter and 2 others in our home along with "help me" signs posted to our windows. We called immediately and were so relieved that Mike was safe and made his way home."In an interview with Justin Louis of WOBM radio, Mike, who still seemed amazed by his ordeal, shared the story behind his frantic note.
He said he was at his home in the Green Island community of Toms River when his kitchen was swept away, so he walked out of his house and was swept up in the current. He said he was pulled a half-mile into the bay and then spent about four hours trying to swim back home.
"Well, the current took me to somewhere, which I didn't even know where I was, and it threw me back into the bay. And I tried to swim back to my house for some reason," Mike said. "You know, sometimes you don't think."
He said he ended up across the bay at "some lady's house."
"She had towels on the couch. I just wrapped my body with the towels. ... I was so thirsty because I drank so much salt water. I didn't think I was gonna make it."
He penned the note in the dark.
"I just wanted to have that note to tell my father I tried. You know, I wasn't a baby about it. I tried, I did my thing." Mike told WOBM.
"I was swimming for so long. ... I was so cold, I thought I was just going to freeze right there," he said, "But that lady, I felt like for some reason, she knew someone was going to be in that house. She had these wool blankets all over the place. And I just wrapped myself in them."
After a few hours inside in the dark, Mike ventured back out into the waters.
"In the street there was about eight feet of water, and I'm like, I ain't dying like this, after all this, I ain't dying like this."
He said he was picked up by someone named Frank on a personal watercraft. Frank took in Mike and warmed him by a gas stove and gave him hot chocolate.
On Facebook, "Frank" Vicendese of Green Island writes of Mike, "He was very thankful to be alive and warm, also very emotional after warming up by my stove after it started to sink in what happened."
Mike's journey took him to a friend's house in Kettle Creek, and then his dad came and picked him up. "I told my dad when I got home, you follow me" wherever I go, he said.
Mike says in his conversation with Treglia he apologized for entering her home and said, "There was money on the table, I didn't take nothing. I just took something that would keep me warm."
Treglia did not respond to a request for an interview.
Louis of WOBM told Yahoo News he wanted to initially ensure the incident was a not a hoax so he called the number on the note.
"At first it went straight to voice mail," Louis said. "But I had this feeling I should give it one more shot."
When Louis called Tony's number, the happy father said, "That's my son Mike!"
"He seems like a typical down-to-earth, mid-20s guy who is still pretty shaken up," Louis said of Mike after their interview.
Some people on social media have called Mike's survival a miracle.
He may not believe he stole anything during his ordeal. But certainly he was given a most valuable gift—his life.
To be honest with you, I'm afraid of the dark now. I was in the dark for so long with at least 15 to 20 foot waves that with the bay crashing over me. I couldn't even breathe.
I told my dad when I got home, you follow me everywhere you go.
I told my dad when I got home, you follow me everywhere you go.
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- eng e •
"He said he was picked up by someone named Frank on a personal watercraft. Frank took in Mike and warmed him by a gas stove and gave him hot chocolate."
Now, THAT'S a good neighbor.- JoSe
yea!! now that's some1 i WILL testify at d judgement day againts d devil it self, n i believe my best lawyer YHWH(Yahushua/Lord Jesus) will do so too !!! amen.
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- Douglas •
What a story. Mike was obviously brought up by a loving dad and, being a father myself, I'm happy that he survived and that his dad didn't lose a son that day.
- Jill E. Bean
@Peter H...When I read your comment, I took it that you were being facetious. Everyone else seem to have taken your comment seriously though. So...who's right???
I'm a very private and territorial person and I HATE ppl 'invading my space' but I'd like to think that is a situation such as this, I'd happily share whatever I could with someone in such dire straights. Even if that meant him entering my home when I wasn't there. He left a note and explained what he took and why. To deprive him of a couple of blankets and a glass of water would just be heartless and completely cruel!
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- Joy •
His life was in danger but still thinking about telling his dad how much he loves him. What a loving son. Best wishes to Mike and his father Tony and the two good samaritan who helped Mike to get through this.
- L
@Bob, no he didn't leave money he just saw some on the counter and said he didn't take it
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- A Yahoo! User
How about we just thank Frank? Why give any type of thanks to a supernatural deity who parted a sea for the Jews but didn't so much as sneeze at Katrina, Sandy, Bertha, etc. IMO it is a slap in the face to the human being who risked his own life to save another’s.
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- Nina
my thoughts and prayers go out to all the ones that lost their life during this storm and their families, God Bless them all
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- Jessica
E... Obviously, murder's and kidnappings are far more interesting... to you, that is. Personally, I'm sick of hearing about them since they are on the news every single night!!! It's terribly sad to see the same thing happening every day, all over the world. The moral of this story is when you are up against a wall and you're future doesn't look bright, you should first of all pray to GOD or what ever higher power of your choosing ( I choose GOD, personally) that he protects you and keeps you safe and if by chance your number is up, for what ever reason, take a minute to stop and think about the ones who love you and tell them how much you care for them. A simple act can mean so much to someone who is left with "survivor's guilt" When someone passes, for some reason, their loved ones often blame themselves or carry guilt. For once the media has brought a positive story to light. A son who was dying (or who thought he was), was caring enough to give his father the gift of hearing how much that he was loved, just in case the worst happened. I think that gift is far better than anything money can buy!
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- Max Brent
yeah i agree with you mike. J, you definitely are not the sharpest tool in any shed period. You're one of those that completely follows the law and I bet that one day when you are hit by a hurricane or a super storm as they call it, you will do anything in your power to keep yourself alive, which also might include breaking the law, it's instinct.
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- Glian •
As long as someone isn't trying to kill you it doesn't matter what political party, nationality or religious belief they are when you are in need. There are all types of good people out there when the times get tough.
- Adam12
T-Girl, who did you help?
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- TVMan •
I imagine there's a lot of similar stories of fear regarding Sandy. Christine Treglia, Frank Vicendese, and Mike are all good people watching out for each other like that. I'm glad everything turned out all right.
- Mei
i'm so glad he's alright. what a lovely story!
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- Michael T
You mine as well hug your neighbors since they might be your helping hand in the future.
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- country girl •
its amazing he lived thru all that, must be a great swimmer, or someone was watching out for him-
- alices •
I don't believe this story was embellished. I am from NJ and you cannot believe how the storm impacted the entire state, There are still people homeless, billions of dollars in damages and without power, It is surprising you have not seen the devastation on the local media. You cant imagine how it feels to not have warmth or electricity in your homes. All the area stores are closed and highways are closed with a threat of arrest if you dare to use them. The toppled trees on telephone pole wires, that they can not be access until relief comes for volunteers as far as Canada, Mexico, Iowa, etc, The power companies they cannot do anything but wait for the volunteers to travel in caravans across the country, To see homes reduced to toothpicks, and knowing many may never be able to ever return to their homes due to great financial loss. Count your blessing. Being forced out of your homes and worrying about looting, shocked to hear about the lives of friends taken away by the storm, There is no embellishment. If you find time volunteer to help your neighbor in need or donate.
- Elizabeth •
This is the way people are supposed to help each other. It should not be a surprise or a shock to anyone - it should be expected and appreciated.
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- L Bear •
There is another storm coming, not as bad but eventually worst events might occur, let's pay attention and be wise enough to heed the expert warnings so that we do not have to go thru this type of misadventures, please people, thank you.
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- Eat Me •
If you are taking blankets, water, food, and other things to help you survive then it is okay. If you are taking plasma TVs and Nikes (as in Katrina) you should be shot on sight for looting.
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