Sedona Floods: Helicopter Rescue Lifts Man and Dog from Roof

Alexander Dale and his wife secured their dog with three separate harnesses before a helicopter lifted them from their roof in Sedona, Arizona. The couple refused to leave the animal behind despite concerns from rescue crews about the lack of a standard K-9 harness.

Rapidly rising floodwaters from Oak Creek trapped Dale, his wife, and approximately nine guests in their home on Sunday. The property, which includes the couple's residence and several short-term rentals, sits directly next to the creek bed. Dale described the situation as immobilizing, stating, "We didn't know what to do. We couldn't go anywhere."

The group climbed onto the roof and waited for about three hours for aerial assistance. When a helicopter arrived, the pilot expressed uncertainty about lifting the dog without specific gear. "He told me, 'Well, we don't have a harness for a K-9, so I don't know if we can take him,'" Dale recalled. The couple improvised by combining the available harnesses to strap the dog securely.

Dale sat in the main harness, holding the dog tightly during the lift. "I was sitting in this harness basically holding my dog, praying he doesn't go anywhere," he said. The successful extraction allowed the family and their guests to reach safety as the water levels receded.

Other residents in the area faced similar urgent evacuations. Cindy Wilmer, a schoolteacher living near Red Rock Crossing, left her home with minimal belongings. "I just left with the shirt on my back and the keys to the school and my cat .. I'm worried about my house," Wilmer said. Fernando Leon, who also evacuated, reported seeing the river through his open door, prompting him to leave immediately to avoid being trapped.

State officials deployed air rescue crews to assist with rooftop evacuations and dispatched transportation crews to clear debris from roads. By Sunday afternoon, the heavy rains that triggered the flooding had largely subsided in the Sedona region.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs confirmed the state's involvement in the response efforts. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported from the flooding event.