Two women and a child survived a plunge into a water-filled ditch in Worth County (IA) thanks to the work of Northwood and Mason City fire departments, and their water rescue personnel, reports The Globe Gazette.
诺斯伍德消防局长助理itch Hanson said his department was called at 8:16 p.m. to the scene.
They found an SUV submerged in flood waters in the southbound ditch. The water, he said, was rising quickly.
后来消防员才知道车辆hydroplaned off the highway as a result of run-off that had boiled around culverts near the highway.
The vehicle rolled into the ditch and at one point, was upside down, Hanson said.
“It washed about 40, 50 yards down the ditch line before it caught on something and flipped upright again,” he said. “They were really, really lucky.”
Lt. Dave Nelson of the Mason City Fire Department couldn’t quite believe his eyes when he arrived on scene and saw the rushing water in the ditch.
“When we first got the call, we thought, oh, maybe this vehicle got caught in waters from Elk Creek that’s near there — but when we pulled up, it really was just a ditch, but it looked like a river.”
“The water was eight feet deep and raging,” said Mitch Hanson.
The water was flowing so quickly that it took the Northwood firefighters three tries before firefighter Jim Hanson could reach the vehicle, a distance of about 25 feet.
Firefighters worked in a buddy fashion to get as far into the current as they could before they were no longer touching bottom. They created a human “tripod” and literally propelled Jim Hanson across the remaining distance. Mitch Hanson said it was cold and tiring due to the swiftness of the water.
Jim Hanson attached two safety lines that were then used as lifelines to hold onto during the rescue.
The men first rescued a 3-year-old girl. Jim Hanson was joined by fellow Northwood firefighter Bryan Koster and brought the girl out and handed her to waiting firefighters across the watery expanse.
Mason City firefighters arrived on the scene and brought with them an air raft that was used to bring the other two women from the car. All the crews had to work by the light of generators, since it was after sundown when the last two occupants were brought out.
Mason City firefighters were called to assist and sent Cal Wyman and Scot Orton into the water to help.
Despite the harrowing nature of the experience, none of the occupants were injured and did not need medical attention.
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