Search and Rescue Recovers Two Deceased Women from Tuolumne County Rivers Over the Weekend
Photo: Image of rescue team during recovery | Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office
Originally Published By: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office
Rescue team during recovery | Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office
“We can’t say it enough, be extremely cautious around waterways in Tuolumne County. The rivers are flowing fast, high and the water is cold. These unsafe river conditions will continue well into the summer due to the unprecedented snowfall we received over the winter.
Rescue Team during recovery | Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office
On Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, Tuolumne County Sheriff Search and Rescue (SAR) responded to the area of the Clavey River off Cottonwood Road for a recovery operation of a deceased woman who had been spotted by an Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAV) in the river approximately 400 yards downstream of the Clavey Bridge. The woman was later confirmed as the 22yoa., missing woman last seen on Monday, May 29th, 2023 in the river being swept downstream.
Swiftwater trained SAR members used a safety line to descend to the river’s edge where they used additional safety lines, and downstream safeties to enter the water and recover the woman. Once the woman was out of the water, CHP helicopter H40 assisted by hoisting the woman to the bridge where the TCSO coroner was able to continue their investigation.
While SAR was in the water, TCSO received a report of a 22-year-old female who had entered into the river above the waterfall at Rainbow Pools, had been swept downstream and had not resurfaced. The woman was later located in the water below the Highway 120 bridge.
SAR responded and utilized safety lines to access the woman and move her to the river’s edge. SAR utilized a low-angle rope system to assist in carrying the woman to the roadway where the TCSO coroner took over the investigation.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the two women involved in these incidents. We want to thank our partners with CHP H40, Yosemite National Park Law Enforcement and SAR, Stanislaus National Forest Service, Cal-Fire and ambulance personnel for assistance.”
