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    Talk about hanging on for dear life! Incredible moment Brit tour guide is rescued by helicopter after his jeep becomes trapped in Komati River

    4 Mins Read
    This is the moment the dramatic rescue operation unfolds as a rescuer abseils down from a helicopter towards Michael Turner's stricken jeep


    •  Michael Turner managed to hold onto his jeep for 15 hours before being rescued

    By Matt Strudwick

    Published: | Updated:

    This is the incredible moment a British tour guide was rescued by a helicopter after clinging onto his jeep for 15 hours when he became trapped in Mozambique’s raging Komati River. 

    Michael Turner was crossing a bridge over the waters when a strong current swept him and the game-viewing vehicle into the river where it became wedged. 

    He managed to hold onto the jeep and stayed in the back of vehicle overnight after search and rescue volunteers determined the current was too strong for them to attempt to pull him to safety. 

    The four members from Search and Rescue South Africa kept watch throughout the night from the banks of the river. 

    A video posted on TikTok shows the daring rescue operation the next morning when a South African National Defence Force helicopter flew in after Mr Turner had been stuck inside the vehicle on the river for 15 hours. 

    @lowvelder

    A tour guide, Michael Turner (56), was on his way from Mozambique to collect guests in Komatipoort on December 28 when he was thrown into an ordeal in which he literally had to hang on for dear life. He is a British citizen operating from the neighbouring country. At around 20:00 the strong current of the Komati River swept his game-viewing vehicle away when he was crossing a low-level bridge. The game-viewer became lodged on the verge of the bridge, with the two right wheels on the bridge and two left wheels in the river. Four search-and-rescue volunteers from SARZA arrived at 22:00. On their arrival, the situation was assessed by the four volunteers. The current was too strong for them to enter the river. It was also not possible for the volunteers to use a rope to rescue Turner from the raging torrent. They determined that the vehicle was secure in the river and Turner would be safe if he remained in it. Turner sat in the rear of the vehicle through the night. The four volunteers sat across the river from Turner throughout the night and frequently accessed the situation. When daylight broke on Friday December 29. the situation was reassessed. Previously, victims in similar situations were rescued using police jet skis. Unfortunately, due to the strong current, this solution was ruled out. At 11:00 Turner was rescued by the SANDF using a RX helicopter. Turner was treated on the scene by Securicon. He was severely dehydrated, hungry and in shock. He did not suffer any other injuries. The successful rescue of Turner was due to the hard work and dedication of SARZA Nelspruit, SAPS divers and the SANDF. >Video: Supplied/ Captain Pottie Potgieter.#komati #komatipoort #komatiriver #riverrescue #britishcitizen #rescuesouthafrica #helicopter #helicopterrescue #lowveld #caxton #caxtonnewspapers

    ♬ original sound – Lowveld Media

    This is the moment the dramatic rescue operation unfolds as a rescuer abseils down from a helicopter towards Michael Turner’s stricken jeep 

    Brit tour guide Michael Turner was crossing a bridge over the waters when a strong current swept him and the game-viewing vehicle into the river where it became wedged

    Brit tour guide Michael Turner was crossing a bridge over the waters when a strong current swept him and the game-viewing vehicle into the river where it became wedged

    He managed to hold onto the jeep and stayed in the back of vehicle overnight as the waters of Mozambique's Komati river raged around him

    He managed to hold onto the jeep and stayed in the back of vehicle overnight as the waters of Mozambique’s Komati river raged around him

    Mr Turner was flown back to dry land where he was assessed and was said to be severely dehydrated and in shock

    Mr Turner was flown back to dry land where he was assessed and was said to be severely dehydrated and in shock

    The 56-second clip shows the moment the rescuer winched to the helicopter abseils down to Mr Turner’s stricken jeep. 

    The dramatic footage shows him reaching out to the vehicle before grabbing hold of the roof as the raging current flows underneath. 

    Mr Turner was pulled to safety before being taken to dry land where he was assessed by paramedics and said to be severely dehydrated and in shock.

    Speaking about the dramatic rescue on Friday, police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala told South African newspaper Times Live: ‘Today Mpumalanga police divers in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force based in Hoedspruit managed to rescue the man through a helicopter brought by the soldiers. 

    ‘However, the car is still stuck inside the river.’

    Mr Turner was believed to be driving to the nearby town of Komatipoort, in South Africa, when disaster struck.   



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