FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A 16-year-old Fresno girl is lucky to be alive after she got stuck on the San Joaquin River Monday evening. Fresno Sheriff’s Deputies deployed a helicopter to rescue the girl after she was separated from her inner tube and grabbed hold of a tree in the middle of the river. The girl was pinned as the fast-moving water rushed around her.
Tactical Officer Johnny Reyes was able to get the girl to hold on to a cinch collar to be airlifted to safety, but said she was hesitant at first. “She said she felt her legs were pinned underneath the log and a rock,” says Reyes. “She said she felt if we started to pull her out we would rip her legs off.” The girl did grab hold of the cinch collar and allowed the helicopter to fly her to safety.
Pilot Mike Sill flew the chopper during the rescue, and warns water rescues are up this year. “With the amount of water that’s flowing again this year due to the halfway decent winter we’ve had, our rescues on the San Joaquin River and the Kings River predominantly by our boating unit has gone up quite a bit.” says Sill.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputies warn to wear a life jacket on the fast moving rivers, and be safe especially if you’re an inexperienced swimmer.
To see video of this rescue, click here.
