Method and apparatus for effecting rescue of persons or animals caught in open hydraulic channels

Apparatus for facilitating recovery of objects from a hydraulic channel containing a flowing fluid, said apparatus comprising:

• a porous planar surface for disposition within the hydraulic channel, said porous planar surface being elevated in the direction of flow in the hydraulic channel at an angle to a plane extending normal to the force of gravity such that the horizontal component of said angle of elevation is greater than the vertical component thereof;
• wherein said porous planar surface is configured to permit the fluid flowing in the hydraulic channel to flow through said porous planar surface without materially obstructing the flow of the fluid in the hydraulic channel;
• and
• wherein said porous planar surface comprises:
• a structure defined by:
• an upper surface plane facing away from the bottom surface of the hydraulic channel, and a lower surface plane facing towards the bottom surface of the hydraulic channel;
• and
• a plurality of raised glide structures projecting above said upper surface plane of said porous planar surface, said plurality of raised glide structures oriented generally in the direction of flow of the flowing fluid in the hydraulic channel wherein the upper surfaces of said raised glide structures define a glide surface plane.