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Man Rescued After Being Whisked Away By Flood Waters at Del Valle

CHP helicopter helps save citizen whose car was overcome by swift water at an East Bay park.

By Bay City News Service:

A man was rescued from raging waters at a regional park near Livermore on Sunday night after his pickup truck drifted into the middle of a  creek, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A CHP helicopter crew based out of Napa County responded to a call  from Alameda County firefighters asking for help in rescuing a man who was  stranded atop his truck in a creek in Del Valle Regional Park at about 9:20 p.m., CHP officials said.

The creek was swollen from the heavy rains over the weekend.

When the truck was pulled into the creek, the stranded man's  daughter called for help and led rescuers to his location.

Rescue swimmers from the Alameda County Fire Department had  attempted to save the 58-year-old man, but were unable to because of the  fast-moving water, according to the CHP.

By the time the CHP helicopter arrived, the man had been stuck on top of his truck for nearly two hours, CHP officials said.

The truck had drifted several hundred yards from where it had  entered the water, and was resting about 50 feet from shore, according to the CHP.

The pilot, Officer Pete Gavitte, lowered the helicopter and rested  the left skid on the roof of the pickup, at which point on-board paramedic Matt Gutierrez grabbed the man and pulled him aboard, according to the CHP.

He was transported to ValleyCare Medical Center to be treated for  hypothermia. An update on his condition was not immediately available.

Copyright © 2012 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.     

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JJP December 24, 2012 at 02:11 pm
Smart. Lets try to cross this raging stream at night. If we can't make it one of us brainiacs will float downstream to get some attention(help). Sound like fun?
paul hoffman December 24, 2012 at 03:06 pm
Wonder if this was at the campground slightly upstream from the lake. I seem to remember the drive to it included a low concrete apron that the stream flowed over. The 2 - 4 inch depth in normal times wasn't a problem.
area man December 24, 2012 at 03:10 pm
Hope he has to pay for his own rescue. Hate to have to subsidize that idiot through out life. Good going jerk! You almost won the local Darwin award.
Shelley December 24, 2012 at 03:59 pm
We wondered what the helicopter was doing flying over our house last night while sirens were heard. Brought back bad memories of the kids DUI crash on arroyo. Glad that everyones ok.
Cheryl December 24, 2012 at 04:27 pm
It was a pretty bad storm. Thank you search and rescue it was a bad night to be out.
Cherry December 24, 2012 at 05:08 pm
If I am ever in danger I hope the CHP heli rescues me. It was hauling ass! Fast & low. I hope the victim & rescuers are safe & sound.
Cherry December 24, 2012 at 05:13 pm
I know where you are talking about. I bet you are correct.
LeliaVollmer December 24, 2012 at 05:28 pm
Your comment made me snicker... heeheheheeee
LeliaVollmer December 24, 2012 at 05:28 pm
You saw it? Awesome!
Cherry December 24, 2012 at 09:04 pm
YES! It flew right over my house!
Shelley Covey December 24, 2012 at 10:08 pm
The man was sensible to stay on the top of his truck and wait for rescue. I think of this creek as a great wading place. It must have been quite a sight last night.
Cherry December 24, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Here's video of the rescue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ah1Kgz0b0MA#!
Stephan December 24, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Very smooth rescue, that helicopter pilot is well trained. We are lucky to have him as evidenced by a safe motorist.
Terry Givens December 25, 2012 at 01:30 am
Great Job by all agencies. These rescue personnel are worth every penny. Risking their lives to save others.
paul hoffman December 25, 2012 at 03:05 am
Just because someone is paid doesn't mean they don't deserve credit for what they do...as their willingness to come to others' aid could well be why they entered their field of employment to start with, especially those whose jobs can routinely put them in harms way. If they get amply rewarded, great!
Speedie B December 25, 2012 at 03:54 pm
Wow, awesome rescue! That water was really moving, not at all what it typically looks like at Del Valle. Thank goodness everyone is safe and excellent piloting skills -- so grateful to have first responders willing to take risks to save the lives of strangers. Thank you team and thank you Cherry for posting.
Susan December 25, 2012 at 10:40 pm
How about if you step up and do something meaningful. If not, don't criticize those that do. Try making a difference in peoples' lives before you dismiss what others do!
Becky December 26, 2012 at 02:48 am
Amazing video. It looks terrifying. I'm glad there are dedicated people who can brave such conditions.
Voter with an ID December 26, 2012 at 03:57 pm
..and the Darwin award goes to the drvier who should have known better, risked the lives of others trying to bail him out of a situation he could have avoided, and lived to tell about it.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Nika Megino (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 10:59 am
Hi Christian! Sorry for the trouble! I've gone in and reapproved your posts. I did, however, deleteRead More the duplicates. Please let me know if you have any more trouble with posting, and again, sorry for the inconvenience with our Spambot!
Christian Holm June 17, 2013 at 04:04 pm
Thanks, Nika! I truly appreciate your efforts. I just wish the software would get fixed.
Bridget Carney June 15, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Hi Penelope! I am interested in finding out more about your puppies. Please e-mail me atRead More bridget.carney@gmail.com
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 13, 2013 at 07:32 pm
thank you Lauren
Cindy Eckel June 14, 2013 at 08:01 am
Did you try 'Pleasanton Rentals' in Pleasanton...I know you asked for Livermore but this place hasRead More it all!
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Thank you Cindy I'll give them a call. apprecitate you taking the time.
Abby and Buddy
Beatrice Karnes June 13, 2013 at 08:48 am
They are beautiful and you described them so well! I hope that someone steps forward quickly! (IRead More have my quota of cats already.)
TrueRealist June 12, 2013 at 06:35 pm
It isn't up to the gov. to help raise your kids. The stork didn't drop the kid off unexpectedly. IfRead More you can't afford kids then don't have them.
barbieann June 13, 2013 at 08:39 am
Wow, so quick to jump to conclusions and judge. Maybe T.G. BUYS the child's lunch. Every schoolRead More sells hot lunch every day. At the majority of our schools, more lunches are bought than given for free.
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 13, 2013 at 12:43 pm
The schools give us 2 options as parents. 1. Buying lunches on campus or 2. Send them with a lunch.Read More Clearly the author of this chose number 1 and the school was OUT leaving the child with NO 3rd option. Shame on that school.
Jason Morgan June 9, 2013 at 09:33 pm
A great issue! However, the rodeo is nothing but animal cruelty wrapped up as "tradition"Read More and "entertainment". Why would the animal's welfare become a concern now? Rodeo performers have been documented beating, kicking, and shocking normally docile cows and horses in chutes and holding pens. "Bucking broncos" and steers are provoked with electric prods, sharp sticks, caustic ointments, and the pinching "bucking" strap, which is what really makes them jump, they are not "wild" and "dangerous" . The cowboys earn points by spurring the bucking horse. I have seen them up close and many are bleeding. Calves, roped when running, have their necks snapped back by the lasso, often resulting in neck and back injuries, bruises, broken bones, and internal bleeding. After their short and painful "careers," animals in rodeos are sent to the slaughterhouse. Dr. C.G. Haber, a veterinarian who spent 30 years as a federal meat inspector, describes the animals discarded from rodeos for slaughter as being "so extensively bruised that the only areas in which the skin was attached [to the flesh] was the head, neck, leg, and belly. I have seen animals with six to eight ribs broken from the spine and, at times, puncturing the lungs. I have seen as much as 2 to 3 gallons of free blood accumulated under the detached skin." Every national animal protection organization opposes rodeos because of their inherent cruelty. Don't feel bad everyone, I used to love the rodeo too. Before I knew better...
Bonbrwneyes June 10, 2013 at 09:13 pm
Something to consider and not pushing it aside because I feel its unimportant, but what I'd love toRead More have access to is how the riders that were hurt are doing today. Two bull riders got gored, one in the back and he was down and out for a bit and then obviously not "okay" as he stumbled out of the arena and then another that got his leg hurt and he couldn't get himself over the gate on his own. Left saturday's Rodeo hoping they were okay and would love follow up if at all possible. Thanks!
Danielle Nabozny June 8, 2013 at 03:00 pm
Thank you! That is what we want to know too. We have had more power outages this week than in theRead More 20+ years total that we have lived in this house!
Lynn June 8, 2013 at 07:03 pm
It would be nice to know, indeed. When my husband called to report the outage the recording saidRead More there were no outages in our area, which was clearly incorrect.
AT June 9, 2013 at 06:00 pm
I got the same thing, no outages when I called. I requested to be contacted by PG&E to explainRead More the problem. No call for that but I did get a "survey" call about their automated system. We have also lived here for 20+ years and never had this many outages.
Kari Hulac (Editor) June 8, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Great photos, Kathie..was the horse being evacuated?
Kathie Seymour-Sindicic June 8, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Thank you!! Yes this lady was evacuating this horse. It was the only one a saw be evacuated.