Three people are recovering in hospital and expected to survive after being pulled from rushing floodwaters in the San Fernando Valley as heavy rain battered the region on Thursday morning. Emergency responders rushed to the scene following severe weather that triggered widespread flood alerts across Southern California.
Firefighters responded to the Pacoima Wash near Parthenia Street and Sepulveda Boulevard at approximately 9 a.m. on Thursday after receiving reports of individuals trapped inside the concrete channel. Ground crews successfully pulled a woman from the churning water. Shortly afterward, aerial helicopter crews plucked a man from the rushing floodwaters while additional rescue units staged downstream in anticipation of further victims.
Firefighters then hoisted a third person from the wash as he clung desperately to a bridge abutment near Saticoy Street. According to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz, all three rescued individuals were transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment, and all are expected to survive their ordeals.
Residents living in encampments along the riverbed reported that the victims lost their footing on the slick concrete as the water level rapidly rose. Witnesses described harrowing scenes of individuals struggling against the powerful current. One man reportedly jumped into the channel in an attempt to rescue a woman, but the fast-moving water quickly overpowered them both before professional rescue teams arrived to pull them to safety.
Initial reports from bystanders suggested a fourth person might also have been trapped in the wash. However, following an extensive search of the area, the Los Angeles Fire Department concluded that only three people had been caught in the floodwaters.
