On Saturday, a devastating tornado ripped through the Nesbitt Lane area of Madison, Tennessee, claiming the life of Joseph Dalton, 37. Dalton, known affectionately as "JoJo," died a hero's death while shielding his son, Aiden, and mother, Joey, from the storm's fury.
According to a GoFundMe campaign created for the family, Dalton placed his son and mother in a bathtub for safety before the tornado struck. Cassandra Diket, Dalton's wife, believes her husband's quick thinking saved their lives.
"My mother-in-law says it now. She doesn't think my son or her would be alive if it weren't for him," Diket told WSMV, an NBC affiliate.
Diket was texting her husband shortly before the tornado struck. In a chilling message, Dalton warned his wife to "be careful" as the storm approached.
"I knew it was different this time," Diket recalled. When she returned home around 5 p.m., she found nothing but debris where their mobile home once stood.
In the wreckage, Diket found her son, Aiden, badly injured, and rushed him to a nearby ambulance. Aiden was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment, while his grandmother's condition remains unknown.
Aiden told his mother that his father used his body to shield him and his grandmother during the tornado. "He's my hero," the young boy said, according to his mother.
The deadly incident also claimed the lives of 31-year-old Floridema Gabriel Perez and her 2-year-old son, Anthony Elmer Mendez. Perez's 7-year-old son survived the ordeal.
Joseph Dalton's selfless act of heroism will forever be remembered. He died protecting his loved ones, leaving behind a legacy of courage and love.
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