‘Turn around, don’t drown’: Sheriff’s officials urge public to avoid flooded areas following rescues

San Diego County fire and law enforcement crews carried out two flood-related rescues Thursday as heavy rains swelled waterways across the region on New Year’s Day.

In Escondido, San Diego County Fire personnel rescued a woman who was swept into a creek flowing into Lake Hodges, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies were dispatched about 8:10 a.m. after a man reported that he and his wife had attempted to cross a low-water crossing near the roadway and were knocked off their feet by fast-moving water. The man was able to reach shore and call for help, but the woman was carried downstream. A San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter later located her and she was taken to a hospital. Both were reunited and reported in stable condition.

A few hours later, lifeguards rescued a man trapped by rising water under a bridge in Mission Valley. Fire crews and a lifeguard swift-water rescue team responded about 11:16 a.m. to reports of a man stuck in waist-high water beneath state Route 163, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Candace Hadley. He was extricated and transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The National Weather Service issued a river flood warning for the San Diego River in Mission Valley through Friday.

Sheriff’s officials urged the public to avoid flooded areas, noting that just six inches of fast-moving water can be life-threatening, and reminded residents: “Turn around, don’t drown.”

City News Service contributed to this article.