U.S. Air Force Airmen rescue pregnant woman, others in Zion flash flood

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)– Multiple U.S. Air Force Airmen were honored with a coining ceremony on base Monday morning for their heroic rescue of a pregnant woman and others at a national park near Nevada.

According to Nellis Air Force Base, seven U.S. Air Force Airmen rescued four people, including a pregnant woman, during a flash flood that occurred while they were hiking at Zion National Park earlier in Aug.

While the airmen were walking along a popular trail at Zion, Airman Will Martin noticed the river rapidly rising, signaling an imminent flash flood. As the group quickly moved to higher ground, they spotted a woman floating in the water, appearing “battered, blue, and lifeless,” according to the Nellis Air Force news release.

Airman Demarcus Norman entered the water and pulled back the woman to the shore. She remained unresponsive for nearly an hour while assistance was on its way.

Rescue personnel then instructed the group to move down the canyon to a location where air evacuation could be arranged.

On their way, the woman revealed that she was pregnant and had been visiting Zion with three other individuals.

One of the other individuals was stranded on the opposite side of the river with a knee injury. Recognizing that the injured man couldn’t cross the current on his own, the airmen formed a human chain, linking arms to help him safely cross the river.

The team successfully brought the injured man across the river and reunited with the other individuals along the way.

The airmen were honored on Aug. 26, for exemplifying the Air Force’s core values of “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.”

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