The tragedy took place in the early hours of Saturday morning. (Photo: Provided)
The police opened an inquest, after the bodies of three Zimbabwean citizens were recovered from the Coerney River in Addo. The men drowned after the vehicle they were traveling in was swept away by a strong current from a low-water bridge.
According to Capt. Marius McCarthy, police spokesman, said the tragedy took place in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“The police received a report at around 03:30 that five Zimbabwean nationals in a white Toyota Hilux bakkie tried to cross the Coerney River via a low-water bridge on Slagboom Road in Addo.
“The bakkie was washed off the bridge by the strong floodwater and ended up in the river.”
According to McCarthy, three men between the ages of 34 and 50 sat in the front of the vehicle, while two other men between the ages of 30 and 35 were transported in the back of the open body of the vehicle.
“When the vehicle landed in the river, the three occupants were trapped in the front of the vehicle and disappeared under the water. The two men who were in the back of the vehicle were apparently able to jump out of the van and get safely to shore.”
A large-scale search and rescue operation was immediately launched. (Photo: Provided)
Large search and rescue operation launched
A large-scale search and rescue operation was immediately launched.
McCarthy says the police search and rescue unit, the Sundays River Valley local municipality and the EMS rescue team were all involved in the search and rescue operation.
“Two of the missing Zimbabwean citizens were already pulled out of the river on Saturday and pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.
“The search for the missing suspected driver of the Toyota Hilux continued thereafter.”
The bakkie was washed off the bridge by the strong floodwaters and ended up in the river. (Photo: Provided)
The police search and rescue unit returned to the scene on Sunday together with the Sundays River Valley Municipality’s rescue team to continue the recovery operation.
“The body of the missing suspected driver, a 35-year-old man, was discovered on Sunday morning around 10:30 during the recovery operation.”
According to McCarthy, early in the morning community members themselves started searching along the river and found the body among rubbish along the river bank, about one kilometer from where the Toyota Hilux bakkie ended up in the water on Saturday.
“An inquest is being conducted and the circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated,” he says.
Community members started searching along the river early in the morning themselves and found the body among debris along the river bank. (Photo: Provided)