Aiden Pham was asleep in his mother’s arms as she was carried to safety by a police officer knee deep in floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey.
The 13-month-old baby boy was swaddled in a blanket. His peaceful slumber amid the chaos all around instantly stood out to David Phillip, a veteran photographer.
“It was just tender. It was very special,” Phillip told The Associated Press.
Phillip snapped a photo and the rest is history. The image of mom and baby in the arms of a first responder on Interstate 610 quickly became the face of the storm and the rescue operation.
“I was just keeping an eye out and as soon as I saw the SWAT team member carrying her and then seeing the baby, I just couldn’t believe that baby was wrapped up in there and not crying,” Phillip said.
The boy and his mom, Catherine Pham, were rescued from the Meyerland section of southwest Houston on Sunday, Aug. 27. The floods reached the roofs of many homes there, according to Phillip, who has been a photographer for AP in the area for 22 years.
“House is completely flooded, but at least we are all together,” Catherine Pham posted on her Facebook page late Sunday. “We are so thankful that God was looking over us today!”
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
