Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office airlifts four stranded rafters from fast moving Russian River waters

Sonoma County Sheriff's helicopter crews rescued an adult and three children stranded on the Russian River near Healdsburg during a weekend heat wave.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 9:42 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from East Bay Times

Aerial Extraction Executed During Rapid River Swell

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office conducted a high stakes aerial rescue on Friday to save a group of rafters stranded in the Russian River. The operation targeted a location south of Healdsburg where three individuals, consisting of one adult and two children, became immobilized by increasingly aggressive water speeds. Emergency footage released by the department shows a flight paramedic being lowered via hoist to the group, who had managed to secure their raft to a tree along the riverbank to prevent being swept further downstream.

Secondary Rescue Focuses on Displaced Rafter

As the primary extraction of the group on the raft was underway, rescue teams identified a fourth member of the party roughly 100 yards from the initial site. This individual had reportedly fallen into the river earlier but was able to navigate the current and reach the shore independently. Despite being on land, her position remained inaccessible by traditional ground means, necessitating a second airlift to ensure she was safely transported away from the treacherous river environment.

Safety Gear Credited for Preventing Fatal Outcome

Law enforcement officials highlighted that all members of the rafting party were wearing properly fitted life vests at the time of the incident. This adherence to safety protocols is being cited by the Sheriff’s Office as a decisive factor that significantly increased the survival chances of the group before the helicopter arrived. The flotation devices provided the necessary buoyancy for the individual who fell in to reach the shore and kept the remaining rafters stable while they clung to vegetation in the middle of the fast moving channel.