Fact Check: Rescue Dive Team Deployed via Helicopter to Search for Drowning Hikers
What We Know
On June 23, 2025, the Placer County Sheriff's Office confirmed that three men had drowned after jumping into the water at Rattlesnake Falls, located on the North Fork of the American River. The individuals were part of a group of six hikers who had ventured into a remote area near Soda Springs, California. Following a 911 call reporting that three men had entered the water and did not resurface, multiple rescue teams were deployed, including the Sheriff's Office Dive Team, Search and Rescue units, Cal Fire's Technical Rescue Team, and a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter (source-1, source-2, source-3).
The search efforts faced challenges due to poor underwater visibility, strong currents, and unsafe flying conditions caused by increasing winds. Despite these difficulties, dive team members were flown into the area by helicopter to assist in the search (source-2, source-4). Ultimately, the bodies of the three men were recovered on June 25, 2025 (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that a rescue dive team was deployed via helicopter to search for drowning hikers is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Placer County Sheriff's Office is a reliable authority in this context, as it directly coordinated the search efforts. Reports from various news outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle and CBS News, corroborate the details of the incident, including the deployment of a CHP helicopter and the involvement of multiple rescue teams (source-1, source-3).
The challenges faced during the search, such as poor visibility and strong currents, were also consistently reported, highlighting the hazardous conditions that rescue teams had to navigate (source-2, source-5). The reliability of the sources is further supported by their established reputations in reporting on local news and emergencies.
Conclusion
The claim that a rescue dive team was deployed via helicopter to search for drowning hikers is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the Placer County Sheriff's Office and other rescue teams were actively involved in the search efforts, utilizing helicopters and dive teams to locate the missing individuals.
Sources
- Officials search for 3 missing California hikers in remote falls
- Following days-long search, bodies of three Northern California ...
- Bodies recovered of 3 hikers who went missing in water ...
- Placer County Sheriff Reports Possible Triple Drowning Near Rattlesnake ...
- Horrific triple tragedy after three hikers jumped into stunning ...