Kerry Packer asked the local anchors for help after his car was washed away in Austin, Texas.
Two television anchors interviewed a flood victim over the phone who said he was speaking from his perch atop a tree.
Read: Texas Floods Cause Train to Derail
Kerry Picker told the reporters: “I grabbed onto this tree and climbed up. I'm about 20 feet up right now.
It happened after his car was washed away by flooding in Austin, Texas while he was inside it.
“All of a sudden water started coming through the air vents, so I thought you know what, it's time to get out of this car,” he said.
Somehow, he managed to climb out the car window and get up the nearest tree.
Eventually his Ford Focus vanished downstream.
“I was very, very blessed that it didn't flip over, cause it almost did,” he told the reporters.
Packer called 911 and then emailed the videos to his wife Cecilia, who contacted TV station KVUE to see if anyone could help.
That's when the station's anchors got through to packer on his cellphone.
He told INSIDE EDITION’s Megan Alexander: “They called me when I was in the tree and just asked if I could speak with them. And I said ‘Sure.’”
Alexander asked: “You didn't know this would be broadcast all over?”
Packer laughed and admitted: “No.”
About a minute into the phone interview with KVUE, he revealed the crucial piece of information concerning his whereabouts.
First responders were overwhelmed with 911 calls and Packer had to cling to the tree for five hours.
Finally a helicopter lowered a rescuer and packer was lifted to safety.
Read: Woman Wakes to Find Shark on Her Lawn as Flood Waters Recede
He credits that live interview from the tree for helping him get out of his dire situation.
“I'm sure I was rescued faster because of KVUE,” he said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help him get a new car. For more information or if you would like to donate, click here.
Watch Below: California Drivers Stranded After Flash Floods Trigger Massive Mudslides
