Amador County – The Amador County Sheriff’s Department’s “swift water rescue team” helped save a man from the middle of the Mokelumne River last weekend after he became stranded in a tree by fast-flowing water.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details of the incident Wednesday, saying that at about 4 p.m. Saturday, the “Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a male subject was stuck in a tree, in the middle of the Mokelumne River,” about “2 miles east of Highway 49 on Electra Road.”

Amador Deputies, CHP, American Legion Ambulance and fire personnel from Cal Fire, Jackson and Sutter Creek responded. Wegner said “the stranded individual was part of a group which had been tubing down the river. He became stranded after falling off his tube and being pushed into the tree by the force of the water.” The man “was not wearing a floatation device or any protective equipment. The river level was extremely high and the flow was determined to be approximately 4,800 cubic feet per second, making the river very dangerous.”

Wegner said “CHP closed Electra Road, and fire department personnel cleared the river bank of brush and acted as downstream support, while members of the Amador County Sheriff’s Swift Water Rescue Unit prepared to recover, 30 year old Oakland resident Hamid Aghdael.

“An experienced kayaker known to the swift water rescue team was recreating in the area and assisted the team by delivering a personal floatation device and rope to Aghdael. A Sheriff’s Sergeant then swam to Aghdael, conducted a quick evaluation of Aghdael and briefed him on what to do and what to expect during the rescue.

“The swift water rescue team then used ropes and the river’s current to pendulum Aghdael and the Sergeant to the shore. Aghdael was checked by American Legion Ambulance personnel at the scene and released.

Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan said “the rescue was successful due to the collaborative efforts of all the rescuers and first responders.” He also wanted to “remind everyone that the elevated river levels, very cold water temperature and high flow rate create very hazardous conditions.”

Ryan encouraged people to “enjoy recreating on the county waterways, but to be safe, not to underestimate the force of the water or overestimate your experience or capabilities, and always wear appropriate safety equipment including a personal floatation device.”

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