Firefighter Thrown From Boat During Search For Missing Stanislaus Girl, Highlighting Water Danger
KNIGHTS FERRY (CBS13) – Officials say the Stanislaus River remains extremely dangerous, even for professional crews, as the search for a missing five-year-old girl continues.
Matilda Ortiz was last seen over the weekend. She was with her family when she apparently slipped on a rock and fell into the water near Knights Ferry.
Search crews have been out ever since she was reported missing, but the water continues to run cold, fast and full of debris.
#Breaking: @SFirefighters tell me conditions on the Stanislaus River are so dangerous, the boat involved in yesterday's search got hung up in some trees & a firefighter was thrown from the boat. The firefighter is ok, but the agency is warning people NOT to get in the water. pic.twitter.com/S6R5zpNZJM
— Linda Mumma Solorio (@LindaBMumma) March 20, 2019
According to the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, water conditions are so dangerous that a search and rescue boat involved in Tuesday's search got hung up in some trees – throwing a firefighter off the boat.
The firefighter was able to climb back onboard and get out of the vegetation, authorities say, but the incident underscores the dangers search crews are facing.
Today marks day four of the search for 5 year old Matilda Ortiz who slipped on some rocks in #KnightsFerry & fell into the Stanislaus River Sunday. @StanSheriff says 3 fire boats are on the water, its helicopter is on the way & a # of deputies are searching the shoreline. pic.twitter.com/eQl23mDeua
— Linda Mumma Solorio (@LindaBMumma) March 20, 2019
The Bureau of Reclamation is temporarily reducing water flows into the Stanislaus River to make it safer and easier for crews to try and recover Ortiz. However, even when it looks like flows are down, authorities are warning people to stay out of the water.
Ortiz was last seen about 50 yards from the overpass at Knights Ferry Recreation Area. Crews believe she was carried downstream by the strong current.
Family and friends of Ortiz are staying along the river until she is found.