A lorry driver has been hailed as a hero after saving 20 people from the deadly winter storm that tore across the US.
Jay Withey, 27, broke into a school to find shelter for him and the group in scene like something out of the 2004 weather disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow.
Dozens of people had become trapped in their cars as the blizzard nearly entombed them in snow in the hard hit area of Buffalo, New York State.
The death toll in the surrounding Erie County, where up to 50.3 inches of snow fell in places, has risen to 37.
Withey, a mechanic in the town of Cheektowaga, had ventured out into the storm to help a trapped friend but got caught up himself.
The streets were littered with abandoned vehicles and he even picked up a walker, Mike, who was wearing just sneakers and a light jacket.
Eventually the truck got stranded in a snow drift and desperate attempts to free the vehicle just left Mr Withey soaking wet and cold.
With dwindling fuel, he was starting to get desperate, so he started knocking on doors in the area begging for help.
Despite even offering $500 for help everyone house turned him away.
Withey said: “I plead with them, ‘Please, please can I sleep on the floor, I’m in fear for my life,’ and they say, ‘No I’m sorry’,” he said.
He called the poice but they couldn't come to rescue him but thankfully his friend who he had originally set out to help had been rescued.
So Withey and his new friend settled in to spend the night but at around 11pm an elderly woman knocked on the window asking for help. So she got in as well.
By the next morning, the truck had run out of petrol and Mary's van was running low as well.
Withey knew they needed to move.
Using his phone he worked out a school was nearby and decided to break in. Where there was heat and a bathroom.
Using a set of break pads he smashed the window and with the security alarm screeching opened the front door for Mike and Mary.
After scouting the local area he realised a number of people were trapped and in a similarly dire situation. So Withey rounded up the 20 odd people and got them to the school.
With the group scavenged the school for cereal and apples and found mats in the gym for everyone to sleep on.
On Christmas morning they found a snow blower and managed to free their cars.
One man who had turned Withey away saw him snow blowing and apologised in tears, saying he couldn’t sleep knowing he had denied him shelter.
Once everyone had been freed, Withey left a not apologising for the break in. It read: “To whomever it may concern, I’m terribly sorry about breaking the school window and for breaking in the kitchen.
“Got stuck at 8 pm Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers, just trying not to die.”
It continued. “There were 7 elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom.”
The letter was signed,:“Merry Christmas Jay.”
Police Chief Brian Gould described Withey’s actions as heroic.
He said: “We were absolutely shocked to see that he had over 20 people in the school (and) two dogs.
“Not only a heroic action, but just an overall good person.
“He definitely saved some lives that day."
