TCSO SAR photo
Strawberry, CA – A man stranded in the middle of a creek in Strawberry had to be saved from the raging waters using a human chain technique.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team responded to a life-threatening situation at Herring Creek last Saturday, June 1st. The man had fallen into the waterway and was stuck on a rock in the middle of the creek. Meanwhile, SAR was conducting air operations training with California Highway Patrol CHP Helicopter 40. It and the Swiftwater team members left training and responded to the scene.
When they arrived on the scene, SAR members found the man in shallow, fast-moving water and used a team water-crossing technique to rescue him. It involves holding onto each other’s life vests to increase their combined weight and coordinate movements for stability. When they reached him, he was given a life jacket and helmet and safely assisted across the creek using the same technique.
Sheriff’s officials warn everyone to exercise caution when recreating near waterways in the county due to the cold, fast-running water and potential dangers lurking under the water for swimmers.