Tonga – A 19-year-old woman is lucky to have survived after being swept away while attempting to cross a flooded bridge over the Nkomazi River in Tonga, Mpumalanga.
Fortunately, she was able to grab onto some reeds in the swiftly moving water and held on until rescuers arrived.
On Friday, January 10, 2025, police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli confirmed the rescue, explaining that a bystander noticed the woman being carried away by the river and raised the alarm.
“Reports indicate that the young woman was trying to cross the swollen bridge on the route to Phiva when she got swept away but managed to cling to a reed in the middle of the river,” Brigadier Mdhluli detailed.
“A concerned citizen witnessed the incident and promptly alerted the police, leading to a coordinated response from various agencies, including the SA Police Service’s Search and Rescue team, Disaster Management, and local officials.”
Brigadier Mdhluli reported that police successfully located and rescued the woman using a helicopter.
He also warned against attempting to cross flooded streams and low bridges.
A large crowd of locals gathered along the riverbank to watch the rescue operation unfold.
