4x4 like 'a cork' in flood
2008-01-15 23:02
Port Edward - A Johannesburg couple whose 4x4 was swept away "like a cork" by a raging river after 300mm of rain fell in 48 hours, had to spend 2½ hours trapped on the roof of their vehicle before being rescued.
Mick Banks, station commander at the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), said they were called to the Old Pont Road at Port Edward after reports of a couple trapped in their vehicle.
The vehicle was washed into the river while trying to cross a small flooded bridge on the road.
When the NSRI arrived at the small, usually-dry stream, they found Brian Cross, 52, and his wife, Lorraine, 49, clinging to the roof of their 4x4 in swiftly-flowing water.
Banks said the vehicle was pinned in the river by a tree that had penetrated the left back door and was wedged through the back seat.
In a joint operation, rescuers rigged ropes and pulley systems to reach the couple, who were in imminent danger of being swept down the river and over a nearby waterfall.
Banks said the couple had been brought to the river bank where they were treated for hypothermia.
Stopped by tree trunk
The couple had been on holiday at the Wild Coast Casino and were returning to their accommodation during heavy rains when they came across what appeared to them to be shallow water flowing over a small bridge.
Lorraine said her husband was certain his 4x4 vehicle would make it through the water.
As they went into the water, the vehicle was swept away like "a cork" and they were struck by logs, before a tree ruptured their left back door coming to rest across the back seat.
This brought the vehicle to a sudden halt in the middle of the rapids.
According to Banks, if the tree hadn't stopped the car, it would have gone over the waterfall.