California helicopter rescue saves woman trapped for hours atop overturned truck in creek

On Tuesday morning, a helicopter team rescued a woman who was trapped for almost 15 hours atop her overturned pick-up truck. Photo / AP

A helicopter team rescued a woman on Tuesday morning who was trapped for almost 15 hours atop her overturned pick-up truck in rushing waters after she tried to traverse a swollen creek after recent rains in Northern California.

A helicopter of California Highway Patrol Air Operations airlifted the woman to shore as waters surged around her vehicle at a crossing in a park.

Harrowing footage posted online showed the woman being plucked from the car by a helicopter technician using a rescue harness. California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Air Operations said on Facebook the woman was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Her name wasn’t released.

Shaun Bouyea, a California Highway Patrol flight officer and paramedic, said it was remarkable that the woman survived the 15-hour ordeal.

“Climbing on top of the car saved her life,” he said.

A helicopter team rescued a woman Tuesday morning who was trapped for almost 15 hours atop her overturned pick-up truck. Photo / AP

Following recent rain in the area, the unexpected creek water levels overtook the woman’s car as she tried to cross the Del Valle creek around 7pm on Monday in Livermore, a city about 60km east of San Francisco.

After the woman spent the night atop the vehicle, a person camping nearby spotted her the next morning and alerted the county fire department. The department then turned to the California Highway Patrol Air Operations for support. Several emergency agencies assisted in the rescue.

Firefighters had attempted to use their ladder truck to reach the woman until highway patrol air operations were able to send a helicopter to rescue her, said Alameda County Fire Department public affairs manager Cheryl Hurd.

A San Ramon Valley Fire Department helicopter rescue technician landed on top of the vehicle and was able to harness the woman and take her to emergency responders waiting on the shore.

Hurd said the woman had often made that crossing before but underestimated water levels that day.

Emergency crews had conducted a similar rescue on the same creek in 2012 after a man became stranded atop his vehicle.