A woman recently fell into California’s Kern River and was swept downstream by its fast-moving current. She was eventually found clinging to a rock while partially submerged in the cold water.
The rescue happened in the Kern River Canyon on Saturday, July 25. A driver flagged down a Kern County Sheriff’s Office park ranger near Highway 178 and reported seeing the woman fall into the river.
Deputies and the sheriff’s Air Support Unit began searching the river corridor from above. The helicopter crew spotted the woman beneath a rock outcropping during its third search pass.
Firefighters were directed to her location and managed to pull her from the river. She was then turned over to emergency medical personnel for evaluation.
Air Crew Found Her Beneath a Steep Cliff
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According to Bakersfield ABC affiliate 23 ABC News, the rescue began at approximately 3:50 p.m. near mile marker 15. Air 1 conducted a low-level search while deputies and firefighters looked for the woman from the ground.
Tactical Flight Officer Deputy Brewster eventually saw her at the base of a steep cliff. She was holding onto the underside of a rock, making her difficult for ground crews to see.
“She’s gonna be tucked underneath rocks, and nobody’s going to have a visual of her ’til they’re right on top of her,” Brewster can be heard saying in the sheriff’s office video.
Brewster maintained visual contact and guided Kern County Fire Department personnel to the correct location. Firefighters first threw the woman a personal flotation device and then used a rescue rope to pull her from the current.
The Kern River Has Claimed 348 Lives Since 1968
The Kern River sadly has a long history of deadly accidents. A warning sign at the entrance to the canyon was updated in May to show that 348 people have died in the river since recordkeeping began in 1968, according to Bakersfield Now.
The sheriff’s office warns that the river can overwhelm even experienced swimmers. Strong currents, cold water, and submerged rocks, branches, and other hazards can make seemingly calm areas dangerous.
Visitors are encouraged to use extreme caution around the river. Anyone entering or recreating near the water should wear a properly fitted life jacket.