Daring rescue in the middle of a historic storm dumping tons of rain on Los Angeles … firefighters used a helicopter to save a man who jumped in a raging river to grab his dog.

The emergency situation played out Monday afternoon in the middle of the flooding L.A. River … with LAFD crews bringing in a chopper to pull out a man who was stranded in the flowing water.

The guy was trying to bit somewhat of a hero himself … he was attempting to save his dog, who had been swept away in the rapids during a flash flood.

As you can see, a helicopter hovered over the river and lowered a firefighter who grabbed the guy and pulled him to safety.

The poor pooch was saved too … with the dog swimming to dry land on its own.

LAFD says both man and dog suffered minor injuries … the guy was transported to a local hospital and the pup was taken to an animal shelter.

Firefighters are happy to report the dog is “alive and eager to reunite with his human.”

As we reported … the big storm, a Pineapple Express, is wreaking havoc in Southern California … causing flash flooding, catastrophic landslides, and damage from debris and downed trees.