Sedona couple straps dog to body for helicopter flood rescue

Nine guests, two homeowners, and one dog waited on a rooftop in Sedona, Arizona, for about three hours before a helicopter crew lowered them to safety on Sunday.

The wait began when rapidly rising floodwaters trapped Alexander Dale and his wife in their home next to Oak Creek. Officials had ordered residents in that area to leave immediately as the water levels climbed. Dale and his wife managed to get onto the roof with their guests. They stayed there until a rescue helicopter arrived with a heavy lifting line.

The rescue team initially questioned whether they could lift the couple's dog. A pilot told Dale that the crew did not have a harness for a K-9 and was unsure if they could take the animal. Dale asked what they should do. The couple decided to use harnesses they had in their home. They put three harnesses on the dog and strapped them together.

Dale sat in his own harness and held the dog tightly during the lift. He described the moment as a period of prayer, hoping the animal would not slip away. The helicopter lifted Dale and the dog out of the flood zone together.

The flooding forced other residents to leave their homes with little time to pack. Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher living near Red Rock Crossing, evacuated with only the clothes on her back, her school keys, and her cat. She described the water as roaring down the street. Fernando Leon, another resident, saw the river through his front door and knew he needed to leave. He feared his home in Oak Creek might be a total loss.

By Sunday afternoon, the heavy rains that fueled the flooding had largely stopped in the Sedona area. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs confirmed that state air rescue crews assisted with rooftop evacuations. State transportation crews worked to clear debris from roads. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported following the event.