Helicopters Rescue More Than a Dozen People Stranded in California Floods

Rescue teams in California airlifted 15 people to safety along the Santa Ana River on February 14, as heavy rain caused flash flooding across the state.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said two air rescue teams were deployed to the fast-moving river after emergency services received several reports that people were stranded on the riverbed.

“There was fast moving, rising water on both sides of the victims,” the department said on its Facebook page.

Sheriff’s helicopter 40King1 rescued 11 people, while and Air Rescue 306 (featured in the video) pulled four people to safety, the post said.

The Redlands Fire Department said the man in the video was trapped on a small sand bar about 100 feet from the river’s edge, near Riverview Drive.

Officials said all victims were transported to waiting medical aid. Credit: Redlands Fire Department via Storyful