Lakeside Fire Responds to Swiftwater Rescue

Lakeview - On November 21, 2010, Lakeside Firefighters responded to the rain-swollen Los Coches Creek for two youngsters who were swept downstream while playing near the water. The rapid current carried both boys approximately 100-yards before one of them was able to extricate himself from the creek. The other boy was sucked through a nearly-full drainage pipe under Lakeview Road where he was removed from the deep water by neighbors and S.D. County Sheriff's deputies who also responded to the call.

Fire crews from the Lake Jennings fire station (fs3) arrived and performed medical evaluations on both boys. Lakeside Firefighter-paramedics treated both for mild hypothermia and tranported them to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Lakeside firefighters want to remind everyone to stay away from these areas during periods of rain. While this incident ended well, it is common for this type of call to end with tragic consequences.

Units attending this incident included: E1, R3, M3, B1 (Tockstein), and 4101 from Lakeside. B8 (Kremensky) from Barona Fire also assisted on this incident.

Rescue 3 on-scene at Los Coches Creek.

The normally dry creek becomes very dangerous when it rains!

The point where the victim exited the underground section of the pipe. This amount of water was sufficient to sweep twovictims down stream. (Photo By: Fire Chief Parr)

Link to KGTV story covering the incident.

Story and photos by: Captain Scott Culkin, Lakeside Fire District