Survivor's Tale: Tray Chaney and Son Defy Tornado's Wrath
TORNADO TERROR: Tray Chaney Opens Up About Horrific Night His Son Was Swept Away by EF-2 Storm
In a heart-stopping update, The Wire actor Tray Chaney has revealed the devastating aftermath of a tornado that ravaged his family's home in Locust Grove, Georgia, leaving his 19-year-old son Malachi fighting for life.
As the May 29 disaster unfolded, the father-son duo was caught off guard by the ferocious storm that tore through their property like a "train coming straight at us." Chaney, who played Malik 'Poot' Carr on the critically acclaimed HBO series, took to The Scholarly Note (thescholarlynote.com) to share his harrowing tale of survival and the long road ahead for Malachi.
"It was like a nightmare come true," Chaney recounted, still visibly shaken by the experience. "I remember hearing what sounded like a train coming, and I turned to my right to see our walls, TVs, dressers, and bed all flying around me." The chaos that ensued left Chaney knocked unconscious, while his son Malachi was brutally tossed 300 feet away from their home – about the length of an American football field.
Miraculously, both father and son survived the ordeal, but at a terrible cost. Malachi suffered severe injuries, including broken ribs, lacerations covering most of his body, and fractures on every bone in his face. Chaney's wife Ayesha was not home at the time but returned shortly after the tornado to find their destroyed home.
The family's terrifying ordeal has left them reeling, with Chaney admitting that they are still trying to come to terms with what happened. "We went through war with a tornado, and it's going to be a long journey and a long road to recovery," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "We're not out of the hospital yet."
The college student's condition has improved dramatically over the past week, with Chaney revealing that Malachi is now in stable condition and has been transferred to a less-severe unit after spending six days in the ICU. However, the actor warned that his son still has a long way to go: "Every single day, he doesn't know what happened. It's like waking up from a nightmare, but it's real."
As for Chaney himself, the actor suffered a head injury during the disaster and was left lying in the mud with debris on top of him. Neighbors rushed to his aid, pulling off the wreckage, but the home was destroyed beyond repair – except for one remarkable survivor: Chaney's cell phone.
The family is now facing an uncertain future, having lost their home and struggling to come to terms with the trauma they've endured. A GoFundMe page has been set up (thescholarlynote.com) to help them rebuild, and as of Wednesday evening, it was just $1,500 shy of reaching its initial $100,000 goal.
The support from friends, family, and fans like Shaquille O'Neal – who recorded a special birthday message for Malachi's 20th birthday on June 1 – has been overwhelming. But Chaney is clear: this is far from over. "We've got a long road ahead of us," he said resolutely. "I don't know what's coming, and I'm not trying to figure it out."
As the family navigates this uncharted territory, they're doing so with the support of their community – but also with a deep-seated determination to rebuild and move forward.
UPDATE: The GoFundMe page for Tray Chaney's family has now surpassed its initial goal, raising over $100,000 in donations.
