LAFD Rescues Transient From LA River Near Cypress Park

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)   –   Authorities said the Los Angeles Fire Department rescued a transient from the LA River near Cypress Park Sunday.

The unidentified 30-year-old man was taken to a hospital for evaluation, officials said.

The man was found trapped around 12:30 p.m. near 2455 N. Shoredale Ave. by firefighters, said fire department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart.

It's unclear how or why the man ended up in the water, Stewart said.

The man said his legs were so weak he could barely stand.

Firefighters using a boat pulled the man into the boat and took him to safety before taking him to the hospital, Stewart added.

Grove Pashley lives steps away from where the man was rescued.

Pashley told KCAL9's Jennifer Kastner that rescues in this area are not uncommon.

"There are some people that are insistent that just stay down in there in their homeless encampment," Pashley said, "their encampments have everything they like and want and it's their home. So, oftentimes they have to be rescued because they're not aware the rains are coming."

Heavy rains put anyone camping near the shore at risk.

The threat of the storm moving in Sunday has the LAFD on alert.

Kastner was with LAFD officers Sunday evening when they went on patrol along the river.

They spread the message via speaker and often walked into encampments to make a  more personal plead.

"The water does come quick and you don't realize it until you get into it and it can sweep you away really quick," said Officer Anthony Farias.

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