Lack of proper judgment almost cost a man his life after being caught in the swift river rapids in the secluded Angel Falls wilderness area near Yosemite National Park on Sunday.

The hiker, whose name was not released, was rescued by an off-duty California Highway Patrol who happened to be trekking near the area with his wife, along with other good Samaritans who pulled him to safety.

According to the Madera County Sheriff's Office, a 24-year-old local from Fresno, California, was hiking along Willow Creek above Bass Lake around midday, when he attempted to trek across the creek, underestimating the current of the water.

Sheriffs recount how he was immediately knocked off his feet and was carried away by the strong river tide coming from the snowmelt in the Sierra mountains.

Luckily for the man, Brent Donley, a California Highway Patrol officer, who was on his day off and enjoying a hike with his wife, Christina Donley, saw the man in the unfortunate predicament.

As luck has it, Donley is trained in search and rescue and had ropes on hand that came in handy for saving the man's life. Donley said that the volume of water that flows every second is colossal, and people sometimes fail to realize it.

Donley said that while the gear he had with him weren't ideal rescue tools, he worked with what he had at the moment, especially since time was of the essence. Three men and two women hiking along the path also helped with the rescue.

While the rescue was in action, Christina Donley took a video of her husband, tying a rope onto a tree branch and tossing it to the hiker who was caught in the tides. It took them a couple of attempts before the man was able to get a grip on the rope.

While the other helpers held onto the rope, Donley pulled the man close to the edge of the creek, and together they snatched him off to safety. Donley stayed with the man and performed necessary first aid until emergency services reached the site. Luckily, the man only suffered minor injuries.

Too Early for Leisure Parks to Open?

The catastrophe occurred in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic as people are eager to break out from months of being cooped up in their houses. Californians are more than ever now looking for opportunities to go to open spaces to practice social distancing and unwind from stay-at-home orders.

As some states have extended their stay-at-home orders, Jacksonville, Florida, beaches, and parks have already been reopened to the public. This has caused controversy as many people believe a second wave of the coronavirus might just be looming ahead.

Beaches in the area will be open from 6 to 11 A.M. and after a break, will resume opening at five to eight P.M. daily. The city's website says that although beaches will be open, some restrictions still apply to make sure to prevent the spread of the virus.

Group activities such as sunbathing or playing volleyball will not be allowed at beaches during the restricted hours. In addition, personal items such as coolers, grills, towels, blankets, and chairs will not be allowed on the beach.

Texas and Vermont have also expressed their plans to reopen some sectors in the weeks to come.