Komatipoort – A 56-year-old tour guide from Mozambique, who was swept away while attempting to drive into South Africa using a low-level bridge over the heavily flooded Komati River, has been rescued.
Fortunately for Michael Turner, the tour guide, after his vehicle was partially swept off the submersible bridge Thursday night, and remained somewhat afloat.
The British national had to cling onto the game-viewing vehicle all night with the rushing river threatening to send him further down the river.
SA Police Service divers and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members eventually rescued Turner Friday morning.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the SANDF members had to use a helicopter to rescue the tour guide.
Brigadier Mohlala said the Mozambique tour guide was on his way to pick up tourists from South Africa when he ran into trouble.
“At around 20:00 a tour guide working in Mozambique is said to have been driving a vehicle on a trip to pick up some guests in South Africa to drop them in Mozambique,” said Brigadier Mohlala.
“It is further reported that he tried to drive on a low water bridge when the river swept away the vehicle he was driving.”
Brigadier Mohlala said people needed to refrain from endangering their lives by trying to cross flooded bridges.
“Mpumalanga police divers and SANDF members based in Hoedspruit managed to rescue the man through a helicopter brought by the soldiers. However, the vehicle is still stuck inside the water,” Brigadier Mohlala said.
He said two other men were still missing after they were swept away in the same river.
