May 19, 2018 – On Friday May 18th Nevada County Consolidated FD resources were dispatched to a drowning or near drowning in the South Yuba River at Hwy 49.
NCCFD deployed the Technical Rescue team along with allied agencies, North San Juan FD, Nevada City FD, Cal Fire and CHP.
We found upon our arrival a female victim in her 20’s out of the water on river right with CPR being performed by bystanders.
With significant access issue crews made it to the victim where she had regained a pulse and was breathing on her own.
She was packaged and a rope system was used to bring her up to the bridge, about a 75 foot vertical drop. She was then assessed by Paramedics and transported to Sutter Roseville Medical Center for treatment by CHP helicopter H20.
The victim fell into the river upstream from the bridge and was washed down river were she spotted by bystanders. Three individuals risked their own lives to jump into the rushing water and pull the victim to the side where they performed 5 rounds of CPR, successfully resuscitated the victim and stayed with her until Fire Department personnel arrived. These individuals by all accounts went above and beyond, and with their heroic actions saved a life.
Outstanding response by those citizens. This is the true America, not what makes the headlines.
Well, this made the headlines. 😉
My daughter, Tess Noelani Engel, was instrumental in the survival of the woman. Tess was painting at the river. She saw the possibly dead person floating by under water.
Tess took off her clothes and pulled the woman out of the water. She next started CPR.
Thank god for your daughter she helped save my friend’s life! ❤️