Body of missing flood victim found
DOUGLASDALE- The body of a flood victim, who went missing during the flooding on 3 February, has been found.
According to Warrant Officer Balan Muthan of the Douglasdale police, two occupants in a blue Toyota bakkie attempted to cross a flooded low-lying bridge on Riverbend Road but were swept into the Jukskei River by a raging torrent of water.
“The occupants risked the crossing because they believed their bakkie could withstand the current,” he assumed.
The bakkie floated along the river for a few metres before coming to a standstill, at which point the occupants decided to exit the vehicle.
Muthan said one occupant managed to get to safety but the other was swept away by the current, possibly because he was knocked unconscious by debris or a rock.
On the day Douglasdale police scoured the riverbank and waded into the raging river to search for the missing man. Later on police divers and the fire brigade were also called in but the search was abandoned at 4pm as the water level had become so high that it was endangering the lives of the search team.
On 4 February the search was resumed with police searching the river on canoes.
The following morning the police were notified that a resident walking along the bank had found a body.
Muthan explained how the resident had noticed a shoe lying in the reeds but when he attempted to pick up the shoe he realised that it was attached to a body.
“The body was totally naked except for one boot when we found it,” he said. “We believe the force of the water was so great that it ripped the victim’s clothes off.”
Muthan added,”This case demonstrates the devastating power of water. We urge the community to be careful and to not take the risk of crossing low-lying bridges during a flood because its just not worth it.”
