On Sunday, 08 December, at 20:30 the NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty crew responded to a report that a vehicle had been swept off a low-lying bridge by flash floods, into a tributary of the Crocodile River in Welgegund on the Glen Afriq Estate near to Hartbeespoort Dam.
The passenger vehicle was carrying a husband and wife, who were returning to their home in the area, when it was swept off the bridge while it was being driven across during flash floods.
The husband was reportedly able to break a window of their vehicle while it was being swept downstream, allowing the wife to escape through the window and reach the river bank. She sought help at a nearby house where residents activated their panic alarm.
SRRU members, an NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam Swift Water Rescue team, NECSA ambulance services, the SA Police Services, Eagle Towing, CPF (Community Police Forum) members and a Police Dive Unit responded.
The vehicle was found 300m downstream submerged underwater and NSRI swift water rescue swimmers, Eagle Towing and SRRU members rigged a rope system across the river and despite the fast-flowing water the NSRI swift water rescue swimmers reached the vehicle and were able to confirm that one person remained in the vehicle.
Police divers were deployed and they recovered the man from the vehicle who was declared deceased.
The vehicle was recovered from the river on Monday morning.
Image: Unsplash
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