Flash Flood Rescue in Green River, Utah

Green River, Utah – Several agencies faced the urgent challenge of flash floods in central Utah on Saturday, as they raced against time.

At around 4 PM, the Emery County Sheriff’s Office responded to an airport road near the south side of Green River, where a person was trapped in swiftly moving water.

Once the Green River Fire Station and public works arrived with a front loader, the team deployed a kayak to reach the stranded man.

Civilian Kent Nelson, along with Deputy Josh O’O from the Emery County Sheriff’s Office, managed to provide the man with a life vest and rope. He was then safely pulled to safety.

Footage from the Emery County Sheriff’s Office captures the high-stakes rescue and the moment the man was safely brought ashore.

“The citizen’s actions were heroic. They risked themselves to save a complete stranger,” noted the sheriff’s office. “The person in distress wasn’t local, and no one knew him, but that didn’t stop them. It was truly a collective effort to help someone who was cold, wet, and frightened.”

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City had previously issued a flash flood warning for Emery County on Saturday afternoon, shortly before the rescue took place.

They reported rain totals ranging from 2.5 to 4 inches in some areas.

After a brief respite from rain this week, more showers and thunderstorms are forecast to return to Utah on Friday, continuing through at least Saturday.