New Jersey couple rescued in Garfield County flash flood speaks out

ESCALANTE, Utah (ABC4) — In an ABC4 exclusive, a New Jersey couple that was rescued from a flash flood Wednesday spoke out on their experience.

On Wednesday, June 4, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of four stranded hikers in the Harris Wash area of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

“We were looking for a hike that was easy,” Bruce and Carol Tisch of Englewood, New Jersey said. The couple traveled to Utah with two other friends hoping for some quality time outdoors. After a fair-weather hike, the couple began to notice some dark clouds.

“The weather was great… and it was really great weather for hiking,” Bruce Tisch said. “Then it started raining just a little bit—then it started raining a bit harder.”

Bruce says after they exited the slot canyon, he saw the first bolt of lightning.

They were just a half mile from the trailhead when lightning, rain, thunder got really bad. According to Carol, the ‘SOS’ feature on their phones connected them with search and rescue crews.

“It [at first] looked like a stream. And then, as we were watching, it looked like a 10-ton truck was coming down this wash,” Bruce told ABC 4. “Even if we survived this, we didn’t know how we would get out.”

When Bruce and Carol finally saw deputies appear at the top of a nearby cliff, they thought it might have been an illusion. “They were so calm, and they were so good. I mean, these guys were really heroes,” Bruce said.

Wade Matthews with Garfield County says three deputies and three BLM agents were dispatched to the wash.

Officials say they were able to help the hikers back to their vehicles on foot.

Bruce says after rescuing the group, deputies went back to the flooded area to save their gear. “It’s a great feeling to be alive, but it’s also a great feeling that there are people in this world that care so much about other people that they’re willing to put themselves at risk to get you out.”