Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Utah first responders warn against entering fast-moving waters.
- A man was swept 50 feet downstream in Big Cottonwood Creek's swift current.
- Firefighters used a pulley system for rescue; the man was unharmed.
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON — Utah first responders have an urgent warning for everyone: stay out of the water. This comes after firefighters had to pull a man out of a swift-moving creek this weekend.
Firefighters had to change their strategy to bring this person to dry land safely. They said this easily could have been a very different story.
"The current is running so fast right now that it just took him right away," said Unified Fire Authority public information officer Kelly Bird.
One man got carried away with the idea he could do a cold plunge in Big Cottonwood Creek on Sunday.
"Somehow, slipped or stepped in the wrong area," Bird said.
He said the man was swept about 50 feet downstream by a strong current.
"The water is running super fast right now, and the ability of us — no matter what level of strength a swimmer you think you are — you're not going to win," Bird said.
He said the man was able to grab a rock and sat on it. He said the man is incredibly lucky.
"Very likely that they could have been swept downstream, hit their head, broken bones, very likely could have been a recovery operation," Bird said.
Firefighters threw him a rope, a life jacket and a helmet while heavy rescue teams constructed a pulley system. Murray fire set up a safety net further down the creek as a backup measure.
"They used the tip of the ladder to attach one of our rescuers to on a harness and was able to lower one of our firefighters down," Bird explained.
They put the man in a harness, then brought him up and out, completely uninjured.
"Don't get in the water," Bird said. "It's that simple."
Bird said this area is part of our watershed, so swimming is not allowed.
He said this man is fortunate to be alive and well today.
"Until you've felt that power (of the current), you're just not going to understand how strong it is and you're not going to withstand it," Bird said.
