Relaxing Arizona waterway can turn dangerous and even deadly in an instant

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A plan to capture the beauty of the Salt River took an unexpected turn for a production crew, known for adventure videos.

Millions watch the videos produced by “Bone Rush” as its crew searches waterways around Arizona and across the country. They scan for vehicles, looking for missing people, often with grim results. For balance, the group seeks more uplifting content, such as the beauty of the Arizona landscape.

On Memorial Day weekend, the crew was at the Salt River getting video when the peaceful weekend turned into an emergency.

“Man down! Man down!” a person on the riverbank shouted.

“There was an individual, trying to pull a larger individual out of the water who was struggling,” Mike Binch said.

The man being pulled out of the river was blue. Binch kept recording as good Samaritans found a flat rock and began CPR.

The first deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrived on horseback. They set up quickly, hoping to shock the man’s heart into beating again.

Minutes later, an airboat carrying more of the Sheriff’s Lake Patrol arrived on the scene after navigating the crowded river.

“It’s interesting to see how they maneuver through all the people floating down the river and able to get to this spot,” Binch said.

The man was slid onto the airboat and rushed to an ambulance. That man did not make it, but the crew who captured the attempted rescue wanted to share it to show the danger of the river, which is a peaceful escape for so many Arizonans.

Arizona’s Family Investigates rode along with MCSO Lake Patrol to part of the Salt River known as Devil’s Elbow, infamous for mishaps and a steep embankment. In late August, a man’s body was recovered after he went missing while trying to cross the river near Devil’s Elbow.

It was also in that area where bystanders jumped into action and performed CPR on a man on Memorial Day weekend.

William Jinks with the MCSO Lake Patrol said their boats are ideal to get to these situations fast and navigate around people at times when the river is congested.

“This river gets as shallow as 2 inches, so while it’s loud and can be annoying, it’s the best resource to get help,” Jinks said. “It’s tough. [There’s] lots of training. We’re out here all the time. We’re trained and know how to maneuver around people.”

The Bone Rush crew and first responders want to urge people coming to the river to stay alert because it can become dangerous in an instant.

“I think there’s kind of a misconception that it’s like a resort lazy river,” Jinks said. “It is a natural river. It’s got depths of up to thirty feet. There’s rocks and different currents and trees and obstacles.”

Toxicology reports are still pending for the drowning victim from Memorial Day weekend.

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