A man who spent nearly 12 hours stranded in a tree in Arizona after water levels suddenly rose had to be rescued by helicopter.
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The incident began around midnight on Monday, November 2, in the Salt River near Tempe. The man was in the riverbed when the water suddenly began rising, forcing him to seek higher ground.
He climbed a nearby tree to escape the rising water but soon realized he was trapped and unable to get down safely.
Man Stranded in Tree for Nearly 12 Hours as Water Levels Rise
The following morning, at around 11 a.m., a passerby reported hearing someone screaming near the intersection of Loop 101 and Loop 202.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the rescue presented several challenges. Authorities said the strong current and steep riverbanks made it too dangerous for firefighters to approach the man directly.
As the hours passed, rescuers also grew increasingly concerned about the man's exhaustion. Especially the possibility that he could fall into the fast-moving water.
"We could visually see him in the tree, and you could see that he was getting fatigued," Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations Joe Escontrias said.
"One of our concerns was that he was going to fall off the tree on his own."
Helicopter Crew Rescues Man From Tree Above Fast-Moving Water
Rescue crews initially considered using a raft to reach the stranded man. But ultimately determined that a helicopter offered the safest option.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office dispatched a helicopter, which lowered a rescuer on a long line to reach the man.
The crew successfully lifted him from the tree and carried him to safety, ending his nearly 12-hour ordeal.
Following the rescue, authorities described the man as being in "good spirits" and responsive.
Reports indicated that the man was unhoused and had been staying in the riverbed. Emergency personnel transported him to a local hospital for evaluation.
Before the incident, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office had urged the public "to use caution and stay away from the Lower Salt River as Salt River Project (SRP) releases higher-than-normal water levels."
"Increased flows can create dangerous currents and rapidly changing conditions."
The statement also warned that heavy rainfall could cause flooding and advised residents against driving or walking through flowing water.
"Turn around, don't drown," the statement concluded.
