Firefighters rescue 75-year-old man stuck in Colorado River

Yuma firefighters responded to a person reported to be struggling to stay above water in the Colorado River under the Ocean to Ocean Bridge Tuesday just after 2:00 p.m.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) arrived to find a 75-year-old man holding onto vegetation on the north side of the river trying to stay afloat. A YFD Firefighter quickly put on water rescue gear, entered the water, and was able to bring the person safely to the south shore at Gateway Park within minutes of their arrival.

Authorities determined that a family had been cycling on the path along the river when two boys, ages eight and eleven, entered the water to cool off. Both boys waded into a drop-off area and lost their footing. A bystander saw this and went to assist along with the boy’s grandfather.

They were able to get the boys back from the drop-off but the grandfather then became caught in the drop-off and the current. He was able to hold on to brush along the river until YFD personnel arrived.

The children and grandfather were checked out by YFD medics but did not require further treatment or transport.