North Carolina Hurricane Survivor Dies of Heart Attack After Lack of Cell Service Prevents Husband from Calling 911

Shirley Rotolo’s family believes she would still be alive if they had cell phone service. (Credit: Allison Joyce/AFP)

A North Carolina woman's family is bereft after she suffered a heart attack but couldn't get much-needed medical attention because of downed power lines and damaged roads left in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

A week after surviving the Category 4 storm, Shirley Rotolo's husband, Renato, woke up in his dark, powerless home to his wife having what he thought was a nightmare at 2 a.m. He quickly realized she was suffering a heart attack.