SAPS helicopter rescues 3

Sea Rescue – Mtubatuba – 03 January, 2011: 4 men rescued and a search continues for one missing man – Umfolozi River:At 07h24 NSRI Richard’s Bay, the Police Search and Rescue and the Police Air unit were activated to respond to a remote rural part of the Umfolozi River, in the Mtubatuba area, following reports of a truck washed off a small bridge with 4 men reported to be trapped on top of the truck and one person, reported to be missing after being swept away by flood waters.The SA Police Service helicopter and SAPS Search and Rescue divers arrived on scene and in a highly successful aviation rescue operation members of the Police Search and Rescue were lowered from the helicopter onto the truck where each survivor was hoisted into the helicopter. All 4 survivors were brought safely to the bank of the river.NSRI Richard’s Bay volunteers, towing a sea rescue rubber-duck to be launched on-scene, were stood down prior to arriving on-scene, as they were no longer required. Police Search and Rescue are continuing a search for the one missing adult male.