DEBARY, Fla. — A DeLand man broke down in tears when he talked to Channel 9 Tuesday about his girlfriend who was crushed by a tree during Hurricane Matthew.
Doug Bell said he desperately tried to save Susan Mathes, 63.
Mathes was the first Central Florida resident killed during Hurricane Matthew.
“I heard the sound and looked up like that, and I turned and looked at her and saw the tree coming down, and I yelled at her, "Suzie, no!’" Bell said.
Bell said he needs help to remove the tree that cost him the love of his life.
Bell, 68, said his girlfriend of four years had just finished feeding their animals and were walking through the yard Friday when the massive oak tree crashed down and killed her.
“The hard part is seeing this damn thing crush her to the ground,” he said.
Bell said he rushed to pull her out by cutting the tree in half with a chainsaw, then he used a 3-ton jack to lift the tree off her.
“I couldn't get her out because she was pinned. I knew she was dead, but I couldn't stop,” said Bell.
Bell said he pulled her out and drove her to the hospital, but it was too late.
Bell said they lost their spouses to cancer and found life in one another, and through their Christian faith.
“She loved her animals. She loved music more than anything else,” said Bell.
But it's the oak tree serves as a grim reminder as it sits in his yard.
“I just miss her that's all. I just miss her. I don't know how anybody could love anybody more,” said Bell.
A DeBary group called DeBary Proud tried to remove the tree but the task was too large for them as well.
Cox Media Group
