A Tarrant County Sheriff's deputy was swept away during a daring high water rescue in Burleson early Friday morning, according to authorities. [[355638001,C]]
Authorities said the Deputy Krystal Salazar stopped at about 1 a.m. to help a 70-year-old motorist stranded on the 11600 block of Oak Grove Road.
Salazar was wading through the water — which was about 5 feet deep — when she and a bystander who stopped to help were swept downstream.
"We knew when we answered the 911 call that there was a life in danger," Tarrant County Sheriff's Department's Terry Grisham said. "Deputy Salazar arrived at the scene. She saw immediately there was a life in danger, so she put her own life on the line to effect the rescue."
Deputies said a police helicopter and dive teams responded to search for the victims. Salazar was found clinging to a tree at about 3 a.m. The bystander was able to get back to dry land unassisted.
"She stayed apparently in that position for almost two hours," Grisham said.
A MedStar ambulance transported her to John Peter Smith Hospital for evaluation.
At 1 p.m. Friday, the Fort Worth Fire Department said rescue efforts for the missing woman have moved into the recovery stage.
"The vehicle involved in the initial rescue attempt by Salazar, was swept away as well and completely submerged. The search for the female victim will resume once the flood waters have receded and the water current is safe enough for an underwater search," the fire department said in a news release.
NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.
