SEA RESCUE – Hartbeespoort – Sunday, 08 December. Vehicle swept away in flash floods:

Arthur Crewe, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station commander, said:At 20h03, Sunday, 08 December, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty crew were activated following reports from SRRU (Strategic Response Rescue Unit) of a vehicle swept away by flash floods from a low lying bridge on a tributary of the Crocodile River in Welgegund on the Glen Afriq Estate near to Hartbeespoort Dam.The passenger vehicle carrying a local husband and wife, returning to their home at the time, had been swept off the bridge while the vehicle was crossing the bridge during flash floods.It is believed that the husband was able to break a window of their vehicle while it was being swept downstream and the wife was able to escape through the window and reach the river bank and she raised the alarm 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.During a search the vehicle was found 300 meters downstream submerged under water 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 1 person remained in the vehicle.Police divers deployed and they recovered the man from the vehicle and sadly paramedics declared the man deceased.During the operation Eagle Towing members and their resources provided vital assistance.The body of the man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to the wife, family and friends of the deceased man.In an operation coordinated by Police the vehicle was recovered from the river on Monday morning.