Helicopter helps in rescue of 17 hikers stranded by floodwaters near Tucson
Jul 24, 2017, 6:44 AM | Updated: 12:17 pm
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department rescued 17 hikers stranded by a flash flood near Tanque Verde Falls outside of Tucson on Sunday evening, reported the Arizona Daily Star.
Eight of the hikers were rescued Sunday by the department’s helicopter, which was caught on video hovering over fast-moving waters and hoisting someone out of harm’s way. Some were clinging to branches while others climbed as high as they could go on ledges. One of those rescued was a 4-year-old.
Two more were pulled up and away early Monday.
The remaining hikers waited for the waist-high water levels to drop before walking out with search and rescue teams Sunday, the newspaper said.
“We’re lucky not to have lost anyone,” Shelley Littin, a Southern Arizona Rescue Association swift-water rescue technician, said.
Heavy rains dumped nearly 2 inches of rain on the mountains just east of Tanque Verde Falls throughout Sunday, according to Pima County rainfall data.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
