Body of missing man found in water in Elsburg
They searched for the missing person during their routine work and found a 47-year-old man who had fallen into the river on January 2 while trying to rescue his girlfriend.
The Water Police and Diving Services members received a report of a body floating in water in Elsburg on January 30.
They convened on Van Eden and Brits streets in Crywagen Park, where they met witnesses Roan Moller and Romano Agerella, who had discovered the body.
Moller and Agerella, who collect plastic for resale in the river area and marshland, had noticed police searching for a victim who had fallen into the river.
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They searched for the missing person during their routine work and found a 47-year-old man who had fallen into the river on January 2 while trying to rescue his girlfriend.
According to Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, the communication officer for the Benoni Flying Squad, the incident occurred when the 49-year-old female and her boyfriend were crossing a steel pipe over a river in Tedstonville, Elsburg, near Fisant Street.
The woman lost her footing and fell into the river, prompting her boyfriend to jump in to save her.
Witnesses said the strong currents, intensified by heavy rains at the time, immediately swept the man.
The woman was rescued, but they did not find the man.
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A search operation involving the Ekurhuleni Water Police divers, K9 Search and Rescue and the SAPS Drone Unit was launched.
The challenging conditions included fast-flowing waters and severe contamination from chemicals and raw sewage.
Divers did not immediately recover the man’s body.
On January 30, Moller and Agerella led divers into the marshland, where they found the body about a few kilometres from the original scene.
The divers recovered the remains and transported them to their vehicles, where detectives from Elsburg took over the investigation.
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Giblin commended Moller and Agerella for their dedication, saying their efforts were instrumental in locating the body.
He emphasised the dangers of rivers and dams, urging people to cross rivers only at designated bridges to avoid accidents from strong currents.
This incident highlights the importance of water safety and the need for vigilance around water, especially during heavy rainfall.
