Arizona sheriff’s helicopter crew rescues man stranded atop overturned truck in rapidly rising floodwaters

A Maricopa County sheriff’s helicopter crew rescued a man stranded on his overturned truck in a flooded wash in Tonopah, Arizona. With water rising rapidly and direct access considered too dangerous, the crew used a hoist to lift him to safety.

Deputy Lindsey Smith was lowered about 80 feet, secured the man in a harness and was winched back up with him. The rescue took less than five minutes; the man was brought to the riverbank, where fire personnel were waiting. Heavy rainfall linked to the remnants of Hurricane Polo contributed to flash flooding, prompting officials to warn drivers to avoid flooded roads.