AT least four vehicles had reportedly been washed off the Umbilo River bridge at Heaton Nicholls Drive in flash floods during a heavy downpour.

At 20:32 on Tuesday, June 27, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Durban duty crew was activated following reports from START (Specialised Tactical Accident Rescue Team) who were responding to a man stuck in a tree on the Umbilo River, near Heaton Nicholls Drive, Pinetown.

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Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban coxswain, said one vehicle had reportedly been stuck against a tree where the local adult male driver had managed to free himself from the vehicle and had climbed the tree to escape the fast-flowing flooded river that had broken its banks.

“Our swift-water rescue swimmers responded while our rescue vehicle towed our JetRib rescue craft to the scene. Netcare 911 ambulances services and eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services were also responding.”

On arrival on the scene, Ireland said it was determined that the Heaton Nicholls Drive side of the Umbilo River was under heavy floods.

“Heaton Nicholls Drive bridge was at least a metre under fast-flowing water. NSRI swift-water rescue swimmers approached the scene from the M13 Freeway side – north of the casualty.

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“The man could be seen high in a tree with flood waters washing around the tree and over his vehicle, which was on its side and appeared to be wrapped around the tree.”

The rescue team set up safety ropes.

“An NSRI swift-water rescue swimmer entered the chest-deep water, reaching the 51-year-old man where he was secured into a life-jacket and secured to the swift-water rescue swimmer.”

Ireland said the team entered the water using a safety rope that had been attached to the opposite riverbank and ferry-glided along that rope through the water towards the safe riverbank. On safely reaching the riverbank, NSRI, Fire and START rescue members assisted them from the fast-flowing river.

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“Once safely out of danger, the man was medically assessed by paramedics, and he was not injured. The man was driven home by NSRI,” reported Ireland.

He added that stations in North and South KZN remain on alert to assist authorities wherever needed.

Ireland appealed to motorists and pedestrians not to cross over roadway bridges that are flooded and to not try to negotiate water-logged roadways.

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