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Daring rescue in Delaware County: Rescue crew saves man surrounded by rushing water

Delco water rescue team saves man stranded in Upper Chichester
Delco water rescue team saves man stranded in Upper Chichester 01:39

ASTON, Pa. (CBS) -- Crews rescued a man who climbed a tree to get out of rushing floodwaters in Upper Chichester in Delaware County during the rainstorm Tuesday night, firefighters said.

The 20-year-old man who was rescued had about 2% battery left on his phone when he called 911. Dispatchers used a new technology called "Next Gen 911" to pin the man's location. 

The Delaware County Water Rescue Task Force jumped into action, arriving in three minutes. 

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Delaware County Water Rescue Task Force CBS News Philadelphia

The rescue happened at Riviera Road and Flora Lane in Upper Chichester. Emergency responders said the man went to search for something and suddenly became surrounded. 

Video from the Middletown Fire Company shows crews using a board and ropes to pull the man to safety. The man who was rescued is OK, CBS News Philadelphia has learned. 

"He is doing perfectly fine, and he woke up as if nothing happened," the man's brother said.

The brother of the man who was rescued said he was "stunned" by the video of what happened. He's grateful for the life-saving efforts of the crew.

"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I am blank."

READ MORE: Clean-up underway in New Castle County after live wires trapped people in cars during rainstorm

"The danger of running water is that it's uncontrollable," Aston Fire Captain Matthew McCormick said. "[If] the current that goes with that is sweeping between your legs and everything else, it could take you and and sweep you. It's actually very dangerous to go into the water."

This was just one of many water rescues during the storm. Emergency responders said it takes a team effort to keep everyone safe during storms like the one on Tuesday.

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