UPDATE: Missing person case opened for girl swept away by flood in Diepsloot
DIEPSLOOT- A search for a girl who was swept away in a flood on 25 February in Diepsloot is currently underway and police are now treating it as a missing person case.
According to Diepsloot Police Station spokesperson, Warrant Officer Daniel Mavimbela, the search for the girl is currently underway as emergency services and the police’s diving unit are at the scene to help assist with the search.
“Four children were trying to cross a low-lying bridge during the downpour yesterday afternoon and two of the girls were allegedly saved by community members. The third girl was rescued out of a raging torrent by two brave Diepsloot police officers but we have not found the fourth one,” Mavimbela said.
According to the spokesperson, while the police were working on gathering information next to the stream, about 150 metres away another girl, aged about 12, attempted to cross the stream using rocks.
“She was dragged into the stream by the raging torrent and swept away helplessly and the police were alerted to the danger by screams from bystanders,” he said.
Assisted by a member of the community, Constables Collen Lebyane and Albert Ngobeni, managed to rescue the young girl from being dragged further downstream and the spokesperson stated that the girl survived a near-drowning incident.
Both the police and residents continued to search for the now missing girl yesterday as the Water Police Unit joined in shortly thereafter. However, the search was suspended due to darkness.
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Also read:
Flash floods in Diepsloot sweep girl away
Two flood victims rescued, one still missing
Body of missing flood victim found
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