Miami firefighters make heroic rescue; Police use drone to locate man trapped by flood waters
MIAMI, OK. – Wading and swimming through snakes, beavers, and debris City of Miami Firefighter Tyler Bullard made his way through dark flood waters last night to rescue a homeless man who had been clinging to a tree for two days in the flooded Neosho River area.
“Someone fishing nearby heard him yelling for help and called dispatch,” Miami Fire Chief Chris Chenoweth said.
Chief Anderson said the call came in at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 and the man was near the Neosho River Bridge on Highway 69.
The dangerous rescue was aided by the use of the Miami Police Department’s drone equipped with thermal imaging to locate the man and his five dogs. Miami Police Chief Thomas Anderson and Detective Aaron Crockett operated the drone.
Once they were able to locate the man, MFD Firefighter Philip McBrien maneuvered a rescue boat with Bullard closer to the stranded man and his dogs.
“We used the thermal drone to locate the man and then stationed it over him,” Chief Anderson said, “The drone is equipped with lights, and we used them to help pinpoint his location.”
Bullard swam through the darkness and debris filled flood waters an estimated 400 feet to get to the man. McBrien somehow managed to get the boat to them through the debris filled water and bring them all safely back to shore.
According to Chief Chenoweth the homeless man, named John, appeared to have been living at this location in the woods for some time and had awoken to find himself in floodwaters unable to reach dry land. The man told his rescuers he had no idea the water would get that high.
Chief Chenoweth said Integris EMS took over at that time and he is unsure of John’s condition at this time, but Chenoweth said he appeared to be in good health and did request cigarettes and food for himself and his pets.
The rescue was responded to and assisted by the Miami Police Department, Miami Fire Department, GRDA, and BIA, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Integris EMS, according to Chenoweth and Anderson.
“What Bullard and McBrien did is above and beyond anything I have ever seen,” Chief Chenoweth said, “It was a brave rescue, and their experience and training made it possible. I don’t think anyone else could have handled it so well, they deserve recognition.”