Man swept away after falling in river as wife searches for him, CA rescuers say

Miami Herald

07-05-2025

National Man swept away after falling in river as wife searches for him, CA rescuers say
The 57-year-old was stranded in Trinity River, rescuers said.
Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue
A man was rescued after falling into a California river and getting swept downstream by the current, rescuers said.
A woman called 911 at about 11 a.m. Sunday, May 4, and said her husband was missing after falling 'into the North Fork of the Trinity River, in the Coffee Creek area of Trinity County,' Trinity County Search and Rescue said in a May 5 Facebook post.
With the swift current, the wife said her 57-year-old husband became stranded in the river, rescuers said.
The swift river current carried the man downstream, rescuers said.
Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue
After he 'was swept downstream,' the wife was unable to find him, rescuers said.
Rescuers from multiple agencies, including the Trinity Center Fire Department and Trinity County Sheriff's Office, responded to search for the man.
Multiple agencies responded to reach for the missing man, rescuers said
Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue
As rescuers searched the area, they found the man on an island 'in the middle of the river,' more than a mile from where he fell, according to the nonprofit.
The man could not reach the riverbank on his own, so rescuers advised him to stay in place, the nonprofit said.
Rescuers said they 'shot a line across the river,' and the man secured it 'around a tree on the island' to be 'used later in the rescue.'
Two rescuers swam to the man stranded on the island, a nonprofit said.
Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue
Rescuers said they then pulled a line across the river 'with an inflatable kayak and other rescue gear for the stranded man.'
After placing the man in the kayak, rescuers took him to shore with a rescue swimmer guiding him in the water, the nonprofit said.
The man was placed in a kayak and brought to shore, rescuers said.
Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue
First responders medically assessed the man, who was 'very cold, but not injured,' rescuers said.
He was then 'reunited with his family,' rescuers said.
'So glad this turned out OK,' Trinity Center Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post. 'BUT it's a warning that the Trinity River is running fast and cold!'
Coffee Creek is about a 230-mile drive north from Sacramento.
Daniella Segura
McClatchy DC Go to X Email this person
Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she's worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.