River Rescue Plan Needed

On Feb. 12, I had stopped at a gas station on Victory Boulevard to use a pay phone in the rain. This phone happened to be right beside the Los Angeles River, where the churning waters boiled by, carrying trees, tires and debris of all sorts.

Suddenly, sirens wailed and I was surrounded by at least 15 police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. An officer grabbed the phone from me and yelled, “This is a crime scene; you have to leave.”

I remained because his police car had blocked my car. What I watched became a few of the most unsettling minutes of my life.

It was frighteningly obvious that someone was in the river and that this group of officers had no plan to deal with it. For three or four awful minutes, everyone ran around, but the appearance was that of an anthill kicked--furious activity, little results.

Only two things seemed to be accomplished: A long, single length of rope was thrown over the back side of the bridge. But without knots in it, I don’t see how a person could have held on to it. Another officer ran down the side embankment with a rubber inner tube that looked like the kind fishermen use with a seat in it.

A bobbing head appeared, approaching rapidly. I would later learn it was a 15-year-old boy. It was easy to see he was losing strength. His arms barely came out of the water. He would not have had the strength to grab anything.

However, as he swept by--nowhere near the rope--the man with the inner tube shocked me by throwing the tube out toward the boy. No one could have thrown it far enough. It fell at least 10 feet short and was swept away.

In three minutes, this was all they were prepared for. I could see more emergency vehicles at the next bridge, but it didn’t appear much more was done there.

I am not criticizing the individual efforts of those officers and firemen.

I know, above all, they wanted to save that boy’s life.

What I am criticizing is the apparent lack of a plan--of preparedness--for this event. No one had the appropriate tools to attempt to rescue the boy in the water. Yet it seems people are washed into the river every year, and it will happen again.

As a first assistant director in the film industry, I always carry responsibility for the safety of the crew and actors when we set up action stunts. In preparing for these, we consider in advance every possible thing that could go wrong.

We ask ourselves, “Are we ready and equipped to handle each worst-case scenario?”

Sadly, it appeared this hadn’t happened here.

Specific tools and devices should be invented to handle this situation and be placed near the river’s bridges for quick access. Professional fishermen have a gun that shoots a net beyond their reach; perhaps this could be adapted. Pre-knotted ropes with a spreading bar that would have multiple strands on it would give someone in the water more chances of grabbing hold.

A wide-weave net, like the ones sailors used on the old sailing vessels to climb to the rigging, could be permanently attached to the bridge and lowered to the water level on a moment’s notice, allowing rescuers to climb down and safely grab someone in the water.

Some great minds could come up with better ideas than mine.

I’m sure those officers would have liked better rescue devices, specific to this need, and a better game plan.

PAUL SIRMONS, Sylmar