A Bedford-Stuyvesant man who traveled to hurricane-battered Puerto Rico to rescue his father has safely returned to the borough with his dad by his side.
Samuel Vega, 67, was stuck in Puerto Rico with nothing following the devastating storm – no water, lighting, food, or means to contact his son Emmanuel back in the United States.
Emmanuel Vega called his father several times with no clue of what his condition was. The calls went to voicemail each time.
Unable to wait any longer, the younger Vega bought a one-way ticket to San Juan, rented a car, and drove around the pitch-black city.
After hours of searching, he found his father, and brought him home to Bed-Stuy.
Though Samuel Vega is thankful for his family and the resources he has in New York, he became emotional to think of what has happened to the island, with neighbors that weren't as lucky as he was.
"It hit towns all around, no electricity, no consistent running water anywhere, there's rarely gas, there's people seeking refuge in schools and stuff," says Emmanuel Vega. "Please get those people help."