Rescue team airlifts man from creek near Bass Lake. He’d jumped in to save his wife

A 50-year-old Rancho Cucamonga man was airlifted from Willow Creek near Bass Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 17 after he jumped in the water to save his wife.

The couple was hiking in the Angel Falls Recreation Area when the woman, also 50, fell into the creek, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Her husband jumped in and was able to get her to a spot out of the water where they could wait for help.

The man suffered major injuries to his leg and had to be rescued via CHP helicopter hoist. He was airlifted to a hospital. Sheriff’s deputies and a rescue team were able to use a rope to bring the woman to safety. She was taken by ambulance for medial treatment, the sheriff’s office said.

Posting about the rescue on Facebook, the sheriff’s office used the incident to remind people to use caution hiking around rivers and streams, especially during the winter when rocks are slippery and the water is flowing faster and the temperatures can be deadly cold.

The Angel Falls area has seen several rescues over the past few years. In 2017, a Bay Area man was taking photos of the falls when he fell into the creek and was swept over two waterfalls.

In May, two men were pulled from the swift moving waters in as many weeks. One of them died.

This story was originally published November 25, 2020 at 12:56 PM.