Los Angeles, California (KTLA) – A 35-year-old woman is recovering after being swept away by fast-moving waters in the Los Angeles River, prompting an exciting aerial rescue by first responders on Sunday.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to a call about the incident around 5 p.m., just after a brief but heavy downpour near Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Department officials said.
It’s unclear how the woman ended up in the river, but according to officials, she was first seen in a flood control channel near Whitsett Avenue where knee-deep water was moving at about 15 mph. Rescuers threw him a flotation device as he slowly drifted downstream toward Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
The woman was reportedly able to stand up at one point but was swept away again by the current.
Firefighters then lowered a section of a 24-foot wooden ladder along the channel’s vertical concrete wall, but the current was too high, and he was swept a short distance, Authorities said.
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On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA) -
On March 24, 2024, LA firefighters rescued a woman who had been swept away in the storm-flooded LA River. (KTLA)
After several tense moments, an LAFD helicopter crew hoisted down a rescuer who managed to grab the woman while she was in the middle of the channel. He was pulled to safety on the plane where authorities said he received treatment for minor injuries and hypothermia.
He was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Firefighters said the woman said no other people or animals were with her when she was floated.
