Salt River training exercise becomes reality when crews spot unresponsive man

Training exercise becomes real-life rescue on Salt River

Firefighters conducting swift water rescue training on July 8 at the Salt River rescued an unresponsive 75-year-old man who was seen floating. FOX 10's Lauren Clark has the details.

MESA, Ariz. - A training operation at the Salt River on Tuesday turned into a rescue when crews spotted a man who needed help.

What we know:

The Mesa Fire and Medical Department says crews were conducting swift water rescue training on July 8 at the Phon D. Sutton Recreation Area when they saw a 75-year-old man unresponsive in the water.

"Thanks to their training, teamwork, and quick response, crews successfully performed CPR, resuscitating the patient and saving a life during a training scenario," the department said in a news release. "This incident is a powerful reminder of why we train—and how seconds matter."

The man was hospitalized.

What they're saying:

"He was at the right place at the right time — and so were we," Mesa Fire Capt. Mike Thomas said.

Capt. Thomas is still in awe over what happened. He and 10 other firefighters were at the Salt River for swift water training.

As the crew practiced responding to an emergency, a real-life situation unfolded before them.

"We looked, and we noticed a 75-year-old male, face down in the water; his tube was right by him," Capt. Thomas said. "We had expected that he was going to go into the shallow area and stand up — and he did not."

One group member swam out and pulled the man onto shore.

"He was totally unresponsive … blue in the face," Capt. Thomas said. "He eventually started coming around, being able to answer his name, where he was from, but he had no recollection of what just happened," Thomas said.

Capt. Thomas is grateful the team was there right when they needed to be.

"We are all convinced that if we weren't there and recognized him, he probably would have floated by and gone unnoticed," Capt. Thomas said. "Someone would have discovered him at some point, and it would have been too late."

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A training operation at the Salt River on July 8 turned into a rescue when crews spotted a man who needed help. (Mesa Fire and Medical Department)

What we don't know:

It's unclear how the man became unresponsive in the water.

What's next:

The department says they hope to reunite the man with his rescuers.

Dig deeper:

First responders urge everyone, regardless of swimming abilities, to swim in pairs and wear a safety life jacket.

Officials say the following factors contribute to adult drownings: