(KMJ) – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office says a Fresno man is lucky to be alive following a weekend hiking trip to Bass Lake.
Around noon Saturday, a 24-year-old man hiking along Willow Creek above Bass lake tried to wade across Angel Falls. But, he misjudged just how fast the current was moving and was swept into a whirlpool.
As he struggled to keep his head above water, off-duty Fresno Highway Patrol Officer Brent Donley was hiking by the scene. Donley is trained in Search and Rescue and happened to have a rope on him. He threw it to the man and pulled him to safety with the help of other Good Samaritans.
Donley then stayed with him and provided first aid until the Madera County Sheriff’s Office and EMS arrived. The unidentified man was taken to the hospital, but is expected to be okay.
