Rescuers captured the dramatic moment a woman was saved after falling into the raging rapids of the Kern River near California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains. The woman was swept downstream by the river’s fast-moving current before crews from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit responded.
Footage shows the woman clinging to the underside of a rock at the base of a steep cliff while partially submerged in the cold water. Rescuers threw her a life jacket and a flotation device attached to a rope, allowing her to be safely pulled from the river.
After the rescue, the unidentified woman was turned over to emergency medical personnel for evaluation. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning about the dangers of the Kern River, noting that strong currents, cold water temperatures, and submerged hazards can quickly overwhelm even experienced swimmers. Officials urge visitors to always wear a life jacket when near or in the river.