Boater stranded for a day after crash is rescued thanks to passing chopper, NV cops say

A boater stranded for a day after crashing along a remote stretch of the Colorado River was rescued thanks to a helicopter that happened to spot her wrecked vessel while flying by, officials say.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter was returning to its base in Yuma, Arizona, on March 27, when the crew noticed something in the water below — the hull of a capsized boat, the agency said in a March 29 news release.

The boat was 22 miles south from the Hoover Dam, in a “remote area” without cell service and outside of radio range, according to CBP. In a photo shared by officials, the boat appears to have crashed in an inlet tucked behind a hill, and would be difficult to see from ground level or on the main river.

The chopper landed on a riverbank and spoke with a woman who said she had been stranded at the inlet since the day before, officials said.

It’s not clear how the crash happened, but the woman told rescuers that she hit her head and lost consciousness.

“The aircrew provided fresh water and food to the woman, as she had not eaten or drank clean water since before the accident,” CBP officials said.

The helicopter pilot lifted off “and climbed to an altitude where he regained cell service” in order to contact Las Vegas police.

Search and rescue crews with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the National Park Service responded to the scene and helped transport the woman to a hospital for treatment, police said in a news release.

“Great work by all of our partner agencies involved in the operation,” rescuers said.

This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM with the headline "Boater stranded for a day after crash is rescued thanks to passing chopper, NV cops say."