Firefighters rescue 2 from rushing flood waters in San Antonio creek

Firefighters saved two people Wednesday morning from rushing flood waters in a creek on the Northeast Side. Firefighters saved two people Wednesday morning from rushing flood waters in a creek on the Northeast Side. Photo: Caleb Downs Photo: Caleb Downs Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Firefighters rescue 2 from rushing flood waters in San Antonio creek 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Firefighters saved two people Wednesday morning from rushing flood waters in a creek on the Northeast Side.

Battalion Chief Will Pritchett said crews responded to the creek near Thousand Oaks and Interstate 35 around 4:30 a.m., but they were unable to launch their boats into the water due to the amount of brush in the area.

Firefighters waded out into the rushing waters, using a leapfrog method to move deeper and deeper into the water, and closer to the two stranded victims, a woman and a man.

RELATED: Severe thunderstorms bring more than 2 inches of rain, heavy winds to San Antonio

“It’s really dangerous,” Pritchett said of high water rescues. “I hate sending our people in there. If were called, we’ll go, but it’s extremely dangerous.”

The 8-member crew was eventually able to contact the victims after about 45 minutes and bring them to safety. A third person walked out of the area on his own.

Pritchett said he’s unsure what the people were doing in the area, but there is a homeless encampment in the creek.

The woman was hospitalized for cold-related issues. She is now in stable condition.

The man who was rescued, 60-year-old Bryan Rees, said he was camping at the homeless encampment when he heard the woman screaming for help Wednesday morning and simply had to act.

RELATED: Lightning strike sets far North Side home ablaze

He waded into the water, moving from tree to tree, but when he was about 30 feet from the woman, the water became too strong for him and he became stuck on a tree.

“If I had tried to swim,” he said, “the water would’ve swept me away.”

But then, providence struck.

“By God’s grace, the rain stopped and the water went down around two feet,” he said. “I was able to make it out to her and hold her to the tree.”

Soon after, the firefighters arrived and brought them to safety.

Despite the heroics, Pritchett said the best way one can help first responders is to avoid getting into the water, and instead provide them with any and all information you can.

San Antonio saw more than 2.25 inches of rain overnight, causing the National Weather Service to extend the flash flood warning for the region until 8:15 a.m. A separate flash flood watch, effective until 7 p.m. Wednesday, remains in place for San Antonio, Austin and most of the counties in between.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns