It was rather ironic, but members of the Swiftwater rescue team had to leave their own Awards Banquet to perform yet another rescue not even 24 hours after the previous one.
On Saturday afternoon March 4, 1995 a group of four people launched two canoes down the American River. The river was high, fast and dangerous. In fact, in that same narrow gorge the day before, four people had to be rescued by swiftwater and foot teams after their raft capsized (see story elsewhere).
As the canoeists approached Weber Creek, the turbulence overpowered both canoes and threw all four people into the water. Although three managed to reach shore, one was swept rapidly downstream and disappeared in the waves.
The three survivors fought rocky, brushy and steep terrain all the way up the side of the canyon. When they reached the top, they called for help.
The first word reached SAR volunteers about 8 p.m. as the awards banquet was in full swing. Deputy Mike "Would I Lie?" Gregor made the announcement, leading some SAR members to believe a practical joke was under way until they were actually called out of the banquet an hour later.
Upon arriving, the searchers had little information: a PLS (the water) and direction of travel (downstream rapidly). Hoping against the odds that the canoeist had manged to make it to shore, they searched by foot along the boulder-choked banks in the dark. But, balancing the safety of the searchers against the probable fate of the subject, the Sheriff's Department quickly decided to suspend the search until daylight. The Sheriff's Dive team was put on standby for Sunday morning.
The next morning, however, the missing man showed up alive and well. He had made it to the bank safely in the dark. With daylight, he had started walking and had almost reached civilization when he was discovered. Alas, searchers had allegedly gotten close enough for him to see their flashlights just before the search was called off. But, despite that brush with Murphy's Law, ultimately all was well that ended well.