> At a Glance
> – Alejandra Ramirez Torres, 39, was pulled from the Santa Ana River on Jan. 1 and pronounced dead at the scene
> – Roughly 60 firefighters, a helicopter, and rescue boats responded after the midday 911 call
> – Her daughters, 11 and 16, survived a separate bus crash in November; family now seeks help via GoFundMe
> – Why it matters: A single family faces a double tragedy, spotlighting both water-safety risks and the mounting emotional toll on survivors
The quiet start to 2025 turned tragic when a Tustin mother was swept away in the Santa Ana River, launching a massive rescue that ended with heartbreak for her two young daughters.
The Rescue Effort
Dispatchers received the call just before noon on New Year’s Day. Within minutes, crews converged on the unincorporated stretch of Fountain Valley bordering the river.
- Orange County Fire Authority deployed nearly five-dozen personnel
- A helicopter crew scanned from above
- Rescue boats and bridge-based teams lowered inflatable hoses in hopes the victim could grab on
The swift-water team finally spotted her roughly two miles downstream, near Ellis Avenue and Euclid Street. A firefighter ascended the ladder truck, climbed over a tall fence, and descended to pull Ramirez Torres from the water. Despite immediate medical attention, she was declared dead at the scene.
Capt. Sean Doran later said:
> “This is an absolutely heartbreaking outcome. Our crews were there quickly and did everything they could in always challenging circumstances.”
A Family Hit Twice by Tragedy
Ramirez Torres’ relatives told reporters the family had already endured a frightening ordeal. On Nov. 9, her 16-year-old daughter survived a bus rollover in Running Springs that sent 32 children to hospitals.
Victor Torres, the victim’s cousin, explained:
> “It’s been a rough couple of months for her.”
With funeral expenses mounting and two girls facing life without their mother, relatives launched a GoFundMe campaign. The organizer wrote:
> “This sudden and heartbreaking loss has deeply affected our family, and we are doing everything we can to support Alejandra’s girls as they face an uncertain future without their mother.”
Key Takeaways
- Waterways can turn deadly even in daylight; stay alert near riverbanks
- A multi-agency response (helicopter, boats, ground crews) illustrates the scale of swift-water rescues
- The GoFundMe effort highlights how communities rally when families confront back-to-back tragedies
Authorities have not released how Ramirez Torres entered the river or her official cause of death, leaving loved ones to grieve while seeking answers.
