Bridalveil Water Rescue

from Dave McC narrative:

Team



I would like to thank everyone that came out to the Swiftwater Rescue last night at Bridal Vale Campground. Here is what went down.



The department received a call for 3 people stuck on the rock at the Bridal Vale Campground. A deputy arrived and saw 4 teens and 2 adults. One teen was airlifted by H24 and 2 others and the 2 adults are now on the far side of the river and one teen boy is 50 feet off shore on a small island. With the time running out for daylight the deputy call's for SAR and Swiftwater.



I just left ESARC and Mike was close in Placerville when Jamie calls for us to respond. I called one of our swift team members to call the rest of the team and have the respond. I arrive on scene and get geared up. My first concern is the young boy who was in the water for several hours with out a pfd. I toss him a pfd and have him stand next to a tree in the water. Two County Fire Departments are as also on scene to assist us. As the night falls Mike and I get in the water and attempt a successful rescue of the teen boy. Our next concern is the 4 people on the for side of the river.



So now we have allot more help on scene and we start scouting the area to get across. We have a male adult yelling to have us light up the beach for him to swim across. We kept telling him not to swim but he did not listen. He went in and did make it over. We come to find out we have a large dog on the other side as well.



Now we have made several attempt to scout out an easy way across but it's not going to be easy after all. Mike enters the water with a tag line attached that prevented him from making it across the first time. The second attempt was a success. Now we have a rescuer on the other side and a zip line set up to get to them. Next in the water was Tate them myself. Once on the other side the zip line was moved from up stream to down stream to help with the rescue.the anchor on the far side of the river was left in place and the second anchor was set up. Mike takes the first teen across and then Tate with the second. The next challenge was to get the Dog across. He went for a wild ride. We put his pfd on and clipped a throw bag into it and tossed it across. Once the rescuers on the equipment rich side took the line the dog went for a swim and was pulled in safely.



Now I took the last subject and disconnected the main zip line and we went for a ride as well safely making it across. I have to say EVERY ONE did an outstanding job last night.



Lets do it again.....lol



David McCracken

Ghost Mountain SAR

EDSO received a missing persons call, after a visitor to the resort did not return after leaving with his dog at 700pm. The reporting party, the subject's wife, stated that he appeared inebriated when he left.
Patrol deputies searched the area in the wee hours. Dep. Schaub. enlisted the help from 3 OHV members at 200am to run the roads.
At 430am a general callout was broadcast. Members from all teams arrived between 500-700am. OHV team found dog prints. A dog team followed a scent trail that may have traced the subject's course.
After 800am, the missing subject phone his wife from a payphone on Pony Express Trail. D500 located him and he was returned (with dog) to the area, after medics assessment.