A man who earned the title ‘RescueBae’ for his dedicated Hurricane Harvey work has picked up a slew of not-so-secret admirers on social media.
A viral photo showing 31-year-old Raz Halili on his boat saving several stranded flood victims in the Houston area, immediately appealed to people on the internet who grew curious to know more about the caring cutie.
One Texas resident, who goes by the name Ariel Marie on Facebook, initially shared the viral picture of Halili in a quest to track him down on social media.
She wrote to her Facebook page last week: ‘This just made my day better. Lookahere Mr. Chase, (I don’t even know if that’s ya real name) I’m gon find you!!! Oh yes I am!!! You don’t even know how much ya selfie just blessed me.
When Texas’ Bay Area was under water after Hurricane Harvey, thousands of Texans banded together to help each other get to safety, including Raz Halili (right) and his cousin Gezim
Halili, 31, rescued people in Port Arthur after Harvey flooded a large part of southeast Texas with up to 50 inches of rain
The Texas-born Halili said he and his cousin worked day to night to help in hurricane relief work
The cousins picked stranded residents up using their boats and jet skis
‘I’m in love with you MAN!!!! Whichyo alligator-taming, snake-eating, bayou-riding self!!! #CajunNavy #BayouBoys #PleaseRescueMeAgain #IfIrmaComeToTexasImCominToYou #HotWhiteChocolate.’
Halili told the Daily Mail he believed the ‘kind girl’ saw the goodness in what he was doing and said she tried to made light of the matter using humorous hashtags, which could have ‘sparked’ the craziness.
The Texas-born Halili, said he and his cousin, Gezim, set out to assist with water rescues at the time by using refrigerated trucks from their job as well as their boats and jet skis.
The pair worked long hours during the day and into the night in order to help Houston in any way possible.
Halili said it ‘was beautiful to see people helping others out of the kindness of there heart without regard to race, religion or political party’
Halili said he and his cousin, who have Albanian ancestory, owe America a great debt ‘as they gave us our freedom’
‘I believe this is the true spirit of America. In all It was very gratifying to be able to help out in the aftermath of Harvey,’ Halili said
‘The worst of destruction we saw was in the Port Arthur area, the nursing homes were flooded with high water, patients waiting to be moved by boats to dry land. So many homes/apartments completely flooded out.
‘During all this madness, there were also so many others helping along with local, state officials. It was beautiful to see people helping others out of the kindness of there heart without regard to race, religion or political party,’ said Halili.
‘I believe this is the true spirit of America. In all It was very gratifying to be able to help out in the aftermath of Harvey.’
His cousin Gezim first came to the United States in the 1990’s as a refugee during the Albanian Kosovo War.
The men said their Albanian ancestry is tied to their passion to do good in the states.
‘Kosovo owes America a great debt as they gave us our freedom, for Gezim and I being able to give back is a show of love and appreciation we have for USA,’ he said.
At the age of 16 already, Halili worked a variety of small jobs that mostly revolved around the water.
Currently, he works for his family’s oyster company, Prestige Oyster Inc. in Dickinson.
Halili earned a bachelor’s degree from Houston Baptist University, where he played for the school’s soccer team.
‘I spend most summers aboard visiting family in Kosovo and traveling along the Adriatic coast. Most of time is spent working on growing the business my parents started, which has been the American dream for us,’ Halili said.
Unfortunately for Halili’s female followers out there, he’s happily taken.
He currently resides with his long-term girlfriend, Samantha and the pair’s beloved dog, Zoe.
The cutie said he spends his summers visiting family in Kosovo and traveling along the Adriatic coast
He currently lives with his girlfriend Samantha and their dog, Zoe