Airman Battles Raging Creek at Night to Rescue Two People Stranded on Submerged Pickup

San Miguel County, United States – A New Mexico Air National Guard airman fought through a raging creek at night to rescue two people stranded on top of a submerged pickup truck in San Miguel County, New Mexico.

Footage released by the New Mexico National Guard shows rescuers working by the light of headlamps and emergency vehicles in the fast-moving water around the truck, which is almost completely under water.

Staff Sgt. Anthony Zambrano used his swift-water rescue training to reach the two occupants, who had become trapped by floodwater in Ojitos Fríos Creek near County Road A20 and Paco Road late on September 30, the Guard said. Both were rescued safely.

The Gallinas Volunteer Fire Department had asked for the Guard's swift-water support. The rescue was a multi-agency effort involving several volunteer fire departments, county emergency management, the sheriff's office, New Mexico State Police, the Las Vegas fire and police departments and an ambulance crew, the Guard said.