By Astrid Galvan
The Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque firefighters managed to rescue a man from a storm-swollen arroyo off Morningside and Prospect late Sunday.
The man, who is in his 50s, was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital, where he was being treated for minor cuts and bruises and mild hypothermia, spokeswoman Melissa Romero said.
The man was first spotted around 8:45 p.m. near Snowheights and Eubank NE by firefighters from Engine 9, and rescued about four miles away at Morningside and Prospect NE.
Eleven swift water rescue teams set up at different locations.
When Station 13 arrived to set up for a swift water rescue at Morningside and Prospect, water from the heavy rains in the Northeast Heights hadn’t even arrived, Romero said.
Suddenly, the arroyo filled with four to five feet of water traveling approximately 25 mph, she said. Firefighters had deployed rescue bags and were able to pull the man out of the water. Romero said she did not know where the man initially went into the arroyo, or how.
Much of the city saw heavy rains Sunday, with the National Weather Service reporting an inch at Academy and Eubank. PNM reported it was dealing with several power outages caused by lightning.
Copyright 2011 Albuquerque Journal