An off-duty law enforcement officer rescued two girls swept away by a Chowchilla River water current, according Chowchilla police Sgt. John Markle.
According to police, a woman took her two daughters to Ash Slough in north Chowchilla, around 7:56 p.m. Wednesday. Police did not reveal the ages of the woman or her daughters.
The girls were swept downstream and out of their mother's sight, police said, before the mother could react.
Some distance down the river, the girls grabbed a branch, police said. While they clinged to the branch, the mother yelled for help.
California Fish and Game Lt. Tony Spada, an off-duty Chowchilla police reserve officer, happened to be riding his bike in the area and heard the mother's screams, police said.
Spada entered the fast moving water, police said, and swam to the girls. He carried one from the branch to the riverbank, and swam back for the other girl, who he also carried to the bank.
"Spada's quick thinking and response to this situation saved these two little girls' lives and stopped this event from having a tragic ending," Markle said, in a press release.
Spada is trained in water rescue. Police said anyone without the proper training should not attempt to rescue others in swift moving water.
Police said swimming in Ash Slough is illegal, and its currents are dangerous. However, swimming is allowed in south Chowchilla's Brenda Reservoir.
"The girls were very lucky," Markle said.
Copyright 2013 - Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.)
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
