Woman missing after being swept away by flood

CHARTWELL- A 55-year-old woman has gone missing after she got stuck under a low-lying bridge that was flooded on 3rd Road in Chartwell on the afternoon of 17 March.

March 18, 2016

Masego Seemela 1 minute read

CONCERN: Emergency services search under the Cedar Road bridge for a woman who was allegedly swept off the Third Road bridge during flooding in Fourways on 17 March.

According to Warrant Officer Balan Muthan, police search units and K9 Units are on the scene as it is believed the woman has been swept away.

“The woman was driving a Renault SUV on the bridge and due to the flood the vehicle became afloat and she allegedly got out of the vehicle and has now gone missing,” Muthan said.

According to ER24 management, paramedics, along with various services including police, rescue and provincial services arrived on 17 March and began the search for the woman.

Rescue services searched into the late hours of the evening but later called off the search due to bad light. The search continued early this morning on 18 March with rescue divers searching the water while ER24 and other services searched the banks.

ER24 management expressed that it was understood that the woman attempted to cross the bridge in her vehicle when the vehicle got pushed against the barriers.

Members of her family have joined the search and rescue teams. Local authorities and emergency personnel are still on-scene searching for the woman.

“Everybody’s life is important to the police and we will do whatever we can to find the woman,” Muthan assured.

EMS & SAPS are continuing the search for a 55yo woman swept away by flash floods yesterday in Douglasdale. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/V3qYX5RvzB

— Jamaine Krige (@jour_maine) March 18, 2016