Extraordinary vision shows stranded Texans – including a toddler – clinging onto trees as fast-moving floodwaters beneath them wash away their cars.
Concho Valley first responders worked to rescue five people – three men, one woman and a three-year-old child – after their red truck got stuck in rising waters on September 3.
The group were spotted clinging to the partially submerged tree as heavy rain poured down, prompting swift action from authorities.
A spokesperson for Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office described the event as a ‘scary incident… that could have had a very different result.’
‘Thankfully, everyone is okay.’
Authorities received a call stating a man, woman and child were trapped in the flood.
Upon arrival, they saw the red truck lodged into a tree, and five people in total clinging on for their lives.
Rescuers had to enter the fast-moving water to reach the group, and ran into trouble when one of the group began panicking.
Debris and huge branches were spotted in the murky waters as the exhausting rescue mission got underway.
Rescuers attached a yellow line from one side of the floodwaters to the other, using that to safely get across to the tree.
A lifejacket was attached to the toddler, who appeared to be a little girl, as the rescuer carried her to safety with the help of the bright yellow safety line.
‘Rescues had already occurred by the time the drone began recording, but overall, there is some quality footage to show what was faced today,’ the spokesman said.
‘The water went quickly from the top of the screen where it was toe to ankle level, to waist deep where you see yellow rain coats, ending at full depth where only a complete rope rescue was possible between the last tree line and the tree area where the truck came to rest and the subjects were stranded.’
All five people were taken to safety, and three first responders who were in the water were also offered assistance by the remainder of the crew.