Floodwaters were rising fast when an Arizona sheriff’s helicopter crew reached a man stranded on top of his overturned truck in Tonopah.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said its Fox 1 aviation crew responded Tuesday morning to a flooded wash, where deputies found the man sitting on the overturned vehicle with water rushing around him.
Video released by authorities shows the man perched on the truck as muddy floodwaters rush past him.
Because of the dangerous conditions, first responders decided directly reaching the man was too risky and chose a “hoist rescue” as the safest option.
A member of the Fox 1 crew was lowered toward the vehicle, secured the man in a rescue harness and was hoisted to safety with him. The sheriff’s office said the man was then taken to the riverbank, where fire personnel were waiting.
The helicopter’s pilot, Rich Dickner, told CBS News the water was quickly rising around the vehicle.
“We didn’t waste much time,” Dickner said.
“As opposed to when we first got there, you can see the water line on the video, it’s below the window, and it had risen up to the top of the window,” he continued. “So there was that urgency.”
People reported that Deputy Lindsey Smith was lowered about 24 metres from the helicopter toward the overturned truck. She initially struggled to get her footing before securing herself to the vehicle, according to the report.
Authorities said the entire rescue took less than five minutes.
The sheriff’s office credited the crew’s quick response with getting the man to safety.
“Thanks to the skill and quick response of our Aviation crew, the subject was safely brought to shore,” the sheriff’s office said. “Excellent work, Fox 1!”
The Weather Channel reported that remnants of Hurricane Polo brought historic rainfall to parts of the Desert Southwest, contributing to dangerous flash flooding.
The Flood Control District of Maricopa County warned drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads.
“Remember: Conditions can change fast. If you encounter a flooded roadway, Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”
Read more from Fox News.
