(FeaturedNews.com) – Earlier in the week, amidst unprecedented rainfall that caused extensive flooding, a daring helicopter operation was carried out by firefighters to rescue a man who had leaped into the surging waters of the Los Angeles River attempting to save his pet dog.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) swung into action around 2:45 p.m. on Monday, following alerts from onlookers who witnessed the man’s plunge into the river in a bid to rescue his dog, which had been caught in the current. According to a statement from the department, the dog had fortunately made it to the riverbank and was out of immediate danger by the time rescue efforts were underway.
The rescue operation saw emergency personnel assessing various entry points along the river before deploying a rescuer from the LAFD’s Air Operations unit into the waters. A video shared by the LAFD on Facebook captures the moment the rescuer reaches the man, securing him for the lift back to safety.
Both the man, who remained alert throughout the ordeal, and his dog were promptly attended to following their rescue. The man was airlifted to a hospital for medical evaluation, while his dog was taken to a local animal shelter for treatment of some minor injuries sustained during the incident.
The LAFD shared an update on X (previously known as Twitter), highlighting the dog’s eagerness to be reunited with his owner after the frightening ordeal in the Pacoima Wash. They also extended their gratitude to Los Angeles Animal Services for their care of the dog while the owner was receiving medical attention.
This rescue came as the Los Angeles region was hit by one of its most severe storms on record, with rainfall totals reaching 6-12 inches, leading to almost 400 mudslides. The severity of the storm was such that the National Weather Service issued a rare tornado warning for San Diego County, underscoring the unusual intensity of the weather conditions.
Copyright 2024, FeaturedNews.com
