California man, 28, survives for FIVE hours underwater while breathing from an air pocket after crashing his car into icy river
- Michael Finn, 28, survived five hours submerged in icy water after crashing
- Emergency services were called early Wednesday morning after a car was found submerged in the California Klamath River
- Authorities found a red Ford Fusion in the water and began work to pull it out
- They were able to remove the vehicle from the water with the help of a tow truck
- Finn said he believed he had crashed at around 3am – around five hours before
- He survived the scare by breathing from a pocket of air inside the vehicle
A California man was dramatically rescued from an icy river he was trapped in for five hours after he crashed his car Wednesday morning.
The California Highway Patrol and Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office arrived to the Klamath River shortly before 5:30am after a witness reported a red Ford Fusion submerged on its roof.
The rescue team discovered 28-year-old Michael Finn inside the vehicle that had the four-way emergency flashers blinking.
Officials were able to remove the vehicle from the water with the help of a tow truck, and Finn was rescued shortly before 8am. He said he crashed around 3am.
Photo courtesy of Cal Fire shows the dramatic rescue of 28-year-old Michael Flinn Wednesday morning
Finn said he believed he had crashed at around 3am – around five hours before the rescue before 8am
The California Highway Patrol said Finn ‘endured nearly five hours breathing from a pocket of air inside his vehicle.’
Finn was transported the Fairchild Medical Center and treated for exposure. He is currently in ‘guarded’ condition, officials said.
The police protection company said in a statement: The Yreka CHP would like to remind everyone to slow down during hours of darkness and when roads may be icy.’
Police have not provided details on the cause of the crash.
The police protection company said in a statement: The Yreka CHP would like to remind everyone to slow down during hours of darkness and when roads may be icy’