Brothers, 9 and 7, Died with Mother and Her Fiancé After They Fled Flooded N.C. Home During Hurricane Helene

Mar. 15, 2025

Alison Wisely and Knox Petrucci (left); Wisely with her sons Lucas and Felix (right).Photo:GoFundMe (2)

GoFundMe (2)

Weeks after Hurricane Helene carved a destructive path through western North Carolina, one school district is remembering at least four students who died in the storm’s aftermath.

Two of the victims have been identified as 9- and 7-year-old brothers Felix and Lucas Wisely, theAshevilleCitizen Timesreported.

“I’m extremely broken-hearted to share that since the storm’s arrival, we’ve also lost four of our students,” Jackson said at last week’s school board meeting.

A representative with Buncombe County Schools did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for an update on those who are missing.

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The Wisely brothers’ mother, Alison “Aly” Wisely, and her fiancé Knox Petrucci also died when the family attempted to flee their home on Friday, Sept. 27 amid rising floodwaters.

According to the boys’ father Lance Wisely, the family’s car began to float and the foursome got out and tried to return to their house when “a big wave came and swept them all into the Toe River.”

One week later, the brothers’ bodies were found, one day after Aly’s body was recovered, Lance wrote onFacebook.

Flooding in Asheville, N.C. in the wake of Hurricane Helene.Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty

Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty

Knox’s body has not yet been found, according to aGoFundMefor the family.

In the fundraiser, Felix was described as a “curious” and “precocious” third-grader who “wanted to know everything about the world.” Lucas was known to dress in superhero costumes and loved the outdoors, especially cows.

source: people.com