WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — Newly released video illustrates the rapid water and intense weather conditions that trapped a family of five, including three young children, before rescue crews were able to get them to safety.
The family of five, with children ages two, four, and six-years-old was visiting Snow Canyon State Park from their home in south Florida on spring break when weather conditions changed dramatically.
Officials received a call at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday that the family was trapped by intense water and the Swift Water team was dispatched to help.
Video from crews shows turbulent brown water quickly moving down a wash, transforming it into a raging river.
The family was trapped on the opposite side of the wash from rescue personnel, so three team members established a crossing point and safely crossed through the dangerous water to get to them.
“They were soaking wet," said Sgt. Darrell Cashin, Search and Rescue Liason with the Washington County Sheriff's Office. "Both the parents and the children were freezing. You could tell they were shaking.”
Water was very strong, as illustrated in the videos, as the three crew members struggled to keep their balance while crossing the river.
“Anytime you have flash flooding, it usually will take you off guard," said Cashin. "Even us as responders, we watch the river flows, we watch the rain, we watch those things, but you don't know exactly where that flood's going to come or who's going to be involved in it.”
A temporary zipline was set up to shuttle gear and blankets across the water to get the family immediate help while a more secure zip line could be put in place.
Believing the young children should not get into the freezing and dangerous water, the family members were safely brought across the river via the zip line and evaluated by medical personnel who were standing by.
Normally, this wash in snow canyon is dry, but flash foods turned it into a raging river, trapping the family on one side of its banks so crews had to set up a zip line to get them safely across, said Cashin.
“You've pretty much either got people on the east side or people on the west side," he said. "And if you're out in a place where it does cut you off, this is what happens. You end up stranded.”
Video shows the family members being shuttled across the zipline one by one.
Luckily, every member of this family made it to safety, but when warm rains come pouring in and melt snow up in the mountains, the desert can turn into a dangerous place, said Cashin.
“Look at the weather," he said. "Look at the trail you're going on. Take a few extra things in case you get stranded.”
All family members were rescued in good health and free to go after the operation wrapped up about three hours after the initial callout.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is also warning people not to go into the falls at Gunlock State Park because the moss on the rocks can cause you to slip and fall.
