Man and Dog Safe Following Helicopter Rescue During Los Angeles Floods, Reports Reuters

A man and his dog were rescued safely on Monday after the man jumped into the turbulent floodwaters in Los Angeles to save his pet. Firefighters conducted a dramatic helicopter rescue to bring the man to safety, while the dog managed to swim ashore without injury.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley shared details of the rescue during a news conference, highlighting the heavy flooding caused by an atmospheric river that had impacted California for two days. The National Weather Service identified this event as one of the three wettest storm systems in recorded history for Los Angeles.

Social media footage captured a rescuer being lowered by helicopter into the fast-moving waters of the Pacoima Wash, a concrete channel in the San Fernando Valley that channels into the Los Angeles River. The firefighter secured the man around the waist and both were airlifted to safety.

“The man received treatment at a local hospital, while his dog successfully swam to the edge and escaped the strong currents,” Crowley stated. She emphasized the importance of staying away from the Los Angeles River and other rapidly flowing bodies of water during such extreme weather events.