If not for the quick thinking of an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, a 24-year-old hiker from Fresno might not be alive today.
The man, who has not been identified, was hiking along Willow Creek in Madera County on Saturday when he arrived at Angel Falls, a series of cascades that drops about 60 feet over granite in the Sierra National Forest.
He decided to cross at the top of the falls but misjudged the the swiftness of the water flow, swelled with snow-melt runoff, and slipped into the icy water. He was trapped in a whirlpool at the top of the falls and couldn’t move.
Luckily, also hiking on Saturday was Brent Donley, an off-duty CHP officer who happened to be trained in search and rescue. While a Madera County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team made its way to Angel Falls, Donley got to work.
https://www.facebook.com/MaderaSheriff/videos/3066078850125936/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCVvgb38DXAQnjP3h7-jmeVPU1frWZBtUn_gRy-8v10zL_lL5tMgfqd018BDU3AY8c_i3ibrDkjvbBDAMsKA_mKG-Gqc2rcgbBvW6E10GAsZDy5-Qjyc33OykZ7fXdY0rz9UStvB26TZradbgwBHh1CH5vVa9ICIiBuS1xWX6zUsNcs-d6hTjEsNzdzi__78epgDwhJAu-xZSqxQ6fSE_rxIIf-5aAwucAeipYwLPGah5ZCZh2btUi-IHVwGziND3F0k7xcLNLO0nvRxxFvLkOXylUzowelfN7ydu2BCmFZ-mkORplZuujQdAbK-voxX8S1ylP67-_kzjXCRSkYsfV6OBbMFmRcIis&__tn__=-R
First, he tried to reach the trapped hiker with a long stick, but it just wasn’t long enough. Then cut the paracord-style strap from his own backpack, tied it to the stick, and tossed it into the frothing water.
When the hiker grabbed hold, others on the scene held onto Donley while he pulled the hiker — one-handed — back to the creekside. After the hiker was safe, Donley stayed and provided first aid until the Madera County team arrived.
https://www.facebook.com/MaderaSheriff/videos/254425969094923/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDGsD-xeBgT1Y8C7G2ijA0o-ZKCCyuXHRTGcIfvuzf1NvHUSuyrnNu8B42N9VC-xRiTxZnYLFtuP0liAIke8b_8FfBYC1CkevMtwPefzptgmhzwJroD7eQDYar6ifRQgg-4Tb5nTYmYBTZi5sV_EMWQKpKxQsavH4gYDEGYEvrhDReLX5eHUMfl69AWfKqtM5S0UzRf4cBsjjw_7X4SNZ5HU5omoF48Dj1fRsbxWUMTWHxOyktVQy3PZInFoF2v2FxkBig4WJBmtoTr-zLngbJlqEEJ2Br83S2js1SSAPAICvn-B1gTrqYmuqbJwbWh1xkP27iC23zUsAZHDgpiIQBKzA0vYp5YSJs&__tn__=-R
Madera County deputies also retrieved the hiker’s backpack, which they reported to be “full of water.”
Madera County warned hikers to be very careful of swift water, particularly at this time of year. Angel Falls, they said, was flowing at about 50 to 80 feet per second, or, if you need a visual, about 50 to 80 basketballs full of water per second.
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[Featured image: Screenshot from Madero County Sheriff’s Office video]