Firefighter Risks His Life To Rescue Woman Trapped In Treacherous Flood Waters

July 27, 2023

A firefighter in Deerfield, Massachusetts, is being hailed as a hero for rescuing a woman who was trapped in her vehicle amidst raging flood waters.

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Ben Clark / WWLP-22News

Deerfield Assistant Fire Chief Ben Clark just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

He was out surveying storm damage when the roadway suddenly gave way and the vehicle in front of him plummeted fifteen feet straight down into an intermittent stream that had become a small river from catastrophic back-to-back flash flooding events.

"Ben immediately called for assistance while he gathered his rescue equipment," the Deerfield Police Department said. "Ben made his way down the embankment and rescued the trapped individual out of the vehicle in a high velocity small river. The water was flowing over the vehicle's headlights."

An ambulance arrived and took the woman to Baystate Franklin Medical Center. Authorities did not release her name, but police said she is "recovering well" from the ordeal.

"Ben – you are a true hero to this community!" the Deerfield Police Department said.

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