A Flash Flood Nearly Drowned Them!

Preston Halcomb will never forget August 17, 2024.

“We got knocked underwater again…. 

I couldn't hold onto her….

She got sucked into the fast current….

The last thing I saw were her boots as she was getting sucked downriver.”

Natalie and Preston Halcomb anticipated a fun day of hiking ‘The Narrows -- a trail winding through a canyon river at Zion National Park.  Joining them were Brittany and David, Preston’s sister and brother-in-law. When the four had attempted the hike a year earlier, threats of flash floods made them turn back. This day seemed perfect. Preston recalls that morning, “When we saw the color of the river, we were excited. It was nice and clear and it was low flowing and so we thought we planned it just right.” Most of the hike was in water – shin to waist deep. As they traveled upriver, the path narrowed, and the sides became steep canyon walls with no way to get out. Preston says, “We were very stoked to just get deeper in and see what it was like back there. We were considering doing the whole 12 miles at that point, so we were just getting more and more excited.”

The two couples enjoyed the outdoors, though only Preston and Brittany were strong swimmers. In addition to hiking in water, Natalie had another reason to be cautious… she was six weeks pregnant.  It was mid-afternoon when Natalie heard what she thought was distant thunder. She recalls, “I said, ‘I think that's God telling us we should turn around.’” Preston replied, “I just kind of laughed it off and said, ‘yeah, ok.’”

The weather was still beautiful, so they continued for another couple of miles… unaware of the danger heading toward them. Natalie recalls what she saw, “We were about six and a half miles in, and this water came rushing around the bend. We saw debris and logs and fallen trees coming down.” Preston says, “We could see the fear in each other's eyes. I mean, that is scary. And so, I grab onto Natalie.” She recalls, “The river came in and took all of us. And at that point, none of us were on our feet. That was when the panic really set in.” The powerful flash flood was overwhelming. At the first bend, they slammed into the canyon wall which forced the group apart and underwater. Brittany was pushed into a slower, shallow part of the river -- her husband hit a rock that he clung to for 45 minutes. Preston was frantic to find his wife. He recalls, “It was terrifying. And I knew I had to get to her because she's not good in the water. And then I saw her face just come up through a bunch of bark and debris and it was all over her face and she was just white.” Natalie says, “My body went numb because my body went into shock and my shoulder also popped out of place at that time, so I couldn't swim. I did genuinely believe I wasn't gonna make it.”

As she tumbled through the water, hitting rocks and logs, all Natalie could do was pray. She recalls, “I prayed for my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law because they, at that time, had a 4-year-old. And I prayed that they wouldn't be taken from their daughter's life.”  She also prayed for her husband and the child they hoped to have. She says, “I wasn't mad at God, but I was like, ‘really, Lord, like, this is it? This is it? We don't get to experience our little girl?’ I was like, ‘well, I'll see her in Heaven’.”

Preston grabbed hold of Natalie for a few seconds until a log knocked her out of his grasp.  He reached a small embankment and begged God for direction as he watched his wife disappear down the river. Preston says, “I told God, He had to tell me what, what decision to make. And what came into my head next was if she's alive, she's downriver from me. So, I jumped back in and this time I was a little more controlled. I was able to navigate the river.” Three miles downriver, Natalie, battered and numb, was prepared to die. She recalls, “I prayed for myself, but not that I would get out, I just prayed that I would find peace in this situation.”

At that moment, a hand grabbed her. Natalie says, “I remember thinking, ‘please don't let go, Lord, please don't let go’.” Airman 1st class Dmarqus Norman and six fellow Airmen, were gathered on the shore waiting for the flood waters to recede. Dmarqus saw Natalie and risked his life to pull her out of the water. She recalls, “I remember feeling relief and still fear because I didn't know where my family was. But immediate relief of, oh my gosh, I'm out of the water.” As Natalie recovered from shock and exposure, she waited to see if anyone else was alive. 20 minutes later she got an answer. She recalls, “When I saw Preston run up the hill, I was very relieved. I can't remember what I said to him, but I do remember feeling like, oh, thank God my husband's here. Thank God he's okay.” Preston says, “Seeing her alive was incredible. At that point, all I needed was to know my sister was alive.”

While Natalie and Preston waited for news about David and Brittany, the Airmen brought them food and cared for them. After a long two hours, word came: David and Brittany were alive. However, David had a dislocated knee, so the group of airmen hiked up the receding river to bring the couple down to safety. Natalie recalls, “I remember praying to myself just like, thank you God for them. Thank you that they're okay. Thank you for not taking my niece's parents from, from her. There was still a part of me that was worried about my pregnancy.”  While Preston and Brittany hiked out of the narrows, Natalie and David were evacuated by helicopter to St. George Regional Hospital. Natalie suffered cuts, bruising, and a shoulder injury— incredibly, her unborn child was safe.  To Natalie and Preston’s surprise, Brittany was also pregnant at that time and in April 2025, both women gave birth to healthy babies they nicknamed ‘tumble buddies’. Natalie and Preston have learned to trust God more and treasure every moment. Preston says, “Every day is a blessing. And to practice that with your family it's great. It'll make your life better.” Natalie concludes, “God is with you all the time. Even if you don't feel it. Even if you're in a really hard spot, He's with you.”