San Diego lifeguards searched a swollen flood channel in central San Diego before calling off the search without locating a victim.
A person was reported to be in the aqueduct on the west side of the State Route 94 at Home Avenue just before 10 a.m. Friday.
Karen Martin was driving on to the highway when she spotted someone in the middle of the flood channel. Water was up to the neck of a man who appeared to be standing in the aqueduct, she told NBC 7.
“No arms were flailing, all I could see was his head,” she said.
She was so surprised to see the man in the water, she called 911.
Crews initially could not locate a victim so they requested CHP shut down Home Avenue on-ramp to SR 94 while they continued to search.
Lifeguards tried to access the aqueduct on the west side of the location, closer to State Route 15.
Because the San Diego Fire Rescue helicopter was unable to fly in the conditions, rescuers requested U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to help in the search.
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As of 11:10 a.m., the search was called off without a victim located, officials said.
Martin said she was shocked by how full the flood channel had become in just one day.
Rainfall rates from Friday's storm could reach one half inch per hour, enough to trigger flash floods or debris flows in and below recent burn areas.
Due to forecasts, San Diego lifeguards put their crews on Alert Two, meaning all their staff will be hands-on ready to go if they are needed during the storm and they will have 19 personnel available for swift water rescue.
