Arizona off-roading family, dog saved from raging flood

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona family and their dog narrowly avoided being swept away after their mini sports utility vehicle got stuck in rushing floodwaters.

Dramatic video broadcast by media outlets from the Saturday night rescue shows the family of five holding onto the roll cage of the SUV in Sycamore Creek in the Tonto National Forest near Phoenix.

Several people off-roading were stuck waiting for water levels in the creek in Tonto National Forest to come down.

The family tried to cross the creek and then the SUV’s “headlights disappeared and his vehicle was completely underwater,” said Joe Osuch, who owns an off road vehicle recovery service.

Osuch hooked a winch cable from his car and after several throws, the man driving the submerged vehicle caught the other end. He hooked it to the roll cage and Osuch pulled the vehicle with everyone on it out.

The rescue took two to three minutes and Osuch said it was a surreal experience.