Donna Fagersten had taken refuge at a friend’s home on the top floor as Hurricane Helene tore through northern Florida, leaving a devastating trail of destruction and more than 100 casualties in the southeastern U.S.
As the storm appeared to calm, the 66-year-old teacher, just days away from her retirement, made a fateful choice to return home to rescue her cat.
When Hurricane Helene hit Florida on September 26, 2024, around 11 p.m., the Category 4 storm triggered flash floods, forcing residents to scramble for safety. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pinellas County, particularly in the Tampa Bay region, where at least 11 people lost their lives.
Among the victims was Donna Fagersten, a second-grade teacher from Ponce De Leon Elementary in Pinellas County.
According to her best friend Heather Anne Boles, Donna was set to retire the following week after dedicating 35 years to teaching. When the storm hit, Donna sought shelter with Boles and her partner, Mike Moran. As the storm surge rushed in, they retreated to the third floor of Boles’ mother’s home, across from the beach where Donna lived.
Boles recalled that as the storm seemed to settle, Donna insisted on going home to check on her cat, despite Boles’ pleas to stay. Tragically, another surge and high winds returned, battering the coastline.
A neighbor later came to their shelter, reporting that someone had been found floating in the parking garage. They quickly pulled Donna from the water and began CPR, but despite their efforts and the arrival of fire rescue by boat, they were unable to revive her.
Detectives later confirmed that Donna had drowned in her home, which had been flooded with water.
Family and friends have since remembered Donna as a “beautiful person” who was deeply committed to her students and community. In a Facebook post, Mary Gleason Lyons, a colleague and friend, described Donna as a dedicated teacher with a big heart, touching the lives of many students over her 35-year career.
Online tributes poured in, with former students and friends expressing their sadness at her passing and remembering her kindness and warmth.
While Boles and Moran are now left to clean up after the floods, which destroyed most of their belongings, the loss of their best friend is what hurts the most. “This is the worst we have ever seen,” Boles said, reflecting on the storm’s destruction compared to Hurricane Irma, where they managed to keep their home and belongings intact.
On a positive note, Donna’s cat survived, and her friends are working to find him a new home.
Hurricane Helene, which cut a destructive 800-mile path northward, left more than 2 million homes without power and claimed over 100 lives, according to USA Today.
Only the smartest minds can solve this! If you get it right, you have next-level observation skills.
Have you ever wondered how good your observation skills truly are? Some puzzles challenge our intellect, but others test our ability to notice small yet significant details that most people overlook. The image above presents such a challenge: Who is NOT pregnant?
At first glance, it appears that all seven women in the picture are pregnant. But if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that one of them is not. Can you spot her?
This puzzle requires a keen eye for detail, the ability to notice subtle differences in body posture, clothing, and physical alignment. If you can figure it out without help, congratulations! You have exceptional observational skills.
Let’s break this puzzle down step by step and reveal the correct answer.
Common Mistakes People Make When Solving This Puzzle
Many people rush to conclusions when solving visual puzzles. Here are some common errors that can lead to incorrect answers:
- Assuming that all the women are pregnant
- Since they are standing in a maternity ward, wearing scrubs, and holding their bellies, it’s easy to assume they are all expectant mothers. This is a trap for those who don’t take the time to analyze each individual carefully.
- Focusing only on the belly size
- Most people assume that the woman with the smallest belly must be the one who isn’t pregnant. However, belly size varies depending on the stage of pregnancy, so this method is unreliable.
- Not paying attention to posture and stance
- Pregnant women often stand slightly differently due to the extra weight on their front. If you don’t observe their posture carefully, you might miss this key clue.
Now, let’s go through the correct way to solve this puzzle.
Step-By-Step Guide to Finding the Right Answer
To determine which woman is NOT pregnant, follow these steps:
Video : Who’s NOT Pregnant? 🤔 Brain-Sweating Questions by 7-Second Riddles
Step 1: Observe Their Posture
Pregnant women naturally adjust their posture to accommodate the additional weight in their abdomen. Their stance usually includes:
- A slight backward lean to counterbalance the weight of their belly
- A subtle curve in the lower back
- A gentle widening of the stance for better balance
Now, look at all seven women carefully. One of them does not show these signs.
Step 2: Look at How They Are Holding Their Stomachs
In the image, six women are cradling their bellies—a common instinct for pregnant individuals. However, one woman does not seem to be holding her stomach in the same way. Instead, her hands are positioned differently, suggesting she does not have the same need to support a growing belly.
Step 3: Examine the Clothing Fit
One major clue is how their clothes fit around their stomachs.
- The six pregnant women have shirts that are slightly stretched over their round bellies.
- However, one woman’s shirt does not have the same tight stretch. Instead, it falls naturally over her stomach, suggesting she is not carrying a baby.
Step 4: Notice the Alignment of the Shoulders and Torso
A woman who is pregnant naturally shifts her posture. Their shoulders might be slightly pushed back, and their torso has a gentle forward curve. In contrast, one woman in the group stands completely upright, without any of these adjustments.
Step 5: Compare Their Overall Body Shape
When you look closely at the overall shape of each woman, six of them show clear signs of pregnancy-related weight distribution—particularly in their lower abdomen. However, one woman’s shape does not match the others.
The Correct Answer: Woman #7 is NOT Pregnant!
If you noticed all the clues, you would have identified the seventh woman (far right) as the one who is NOT pregnant.
How Do We Know?
- Her stance is different – She stands upright, without the subtle backward lean seen in the others.
- Her hand placement is different – Unlike the others, she is not cradling a belly.
- Her clothing doesn’t stretch around a baby bump – Her top falls straight down instead of hugging a round belly.
- Her body alignment is normal – She does not show the slight posture adjustments typical of pregnant women.
What This Says About Your Observation Skills
If you figured out the correct answer on your own, congratulations! You have an exceptional ability to notice details that others overlook. This skill is valuable in many areas of life, including:
- Solving problems quickly
- Identifying small changes in your surroundings
- Being more aware of people’s emotions and body language
- Making better decisions by considering small but significant clues
Video : Who’s NOT Pregnant? 10 Hard Detective Riddles With Answers
If you didn’t get it right—don’t worry! This type of puzzle is a great way to train your brain to pay closer attention to subtle details.
Final Thoughts: Keep Sharpening Your Mind!
This puzzle is a fun but effective way to test and improve your observation skills. Whether you got the answer right or not, the key takeaway is that small details matter.
If you enjoy challenges like this, keep practicing! The more you train your brain to focus on subtle differences, the sharper your observational skills will become.
Now it’s your turn! Did you figure out the answer before reading the explanation? Share your thoughts in the comments below and challenge your friends to see if they can spot the difference too!
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