The Swiftwater Rescue Team was once again called into action on Friday, March 10, 1995, in a near-tragedy on Weber Creek.
Two young men had attempted the dangerous passage on craft resembling boogie boards, according to rescuers. The ride was rougher than they expected and both lost their grip as they were swept downstream.
Both men's lives were threatened by the violent water. One man nearly perished when he was sucked underwater, and resurfaced only after several minutes. He was unconscious, and had a severe injury to his nose. His companion undoubtedly saved his life by holding his head above water while they were being rushed along.
Eventually, the companion managed to get both of them to shore. He was no doubt relieved to discover that his friend was breathing once again. A few minutes later the nearly-drowned man regained consciousness, whereupon the able-bodied rescuer jumped backed into the water and crossed the creek to seek help.
The Rescue Fire Department was first to be dispatched, at about 6 p.m. Patrol Deputies, Swiftwater Rescue and Boat Patrol staff arrived later. In addition, between 10 and 20 fire department volunteers responded.
The wounded subject was trapped by sheer cliffs, and could not easily be reached by water or by foot. Observers reported that he appeared to be acting strangely, and rescuers worried that he had either a concussion or hypothermia.
At first, there was little coordination between agencies, and it seemed that everyone had begun to execute a different plan. The boat patrol sergeant and the swiftwater team leader jumped into a rubber boat and headed up the creek without a radio; the searchers left behind began planning a roundabout and lengthy hike across the steep canyon walls; someone radioed the OES office to have his wife bring a line gun from home; and the fire department began making plans of their own.
However, it was the boat crew that finally made the rescue. Slowly battling the current, the crew eventually managed to reach the subject and get him into the boat. He was discovered to have a broken nose and serious hypothermia. After a short ride downstream and a walk up the hill to a waiting medic unit, he was transported to Marshall Hospital, where he got his 15 minutes of fame on the 11:00 TV news.
That's wasn't quite the end of the story. There still remained one last victim to rescue: the Sierra West truck. Recent heavy rains had turned the steep access road into goo and, despite four-wheel drive and the efforts of a dozen people, the out-of-luck truck got stuck in the muck, but good. It stayed there until the next day when a caterpillar tractor finally pulled it free.