Dramatic rescue: 4 cling to boat on edge of Grootdraai Dam wall near Standerton
A co-ordinated multi-agency operation involving rescue teams and the opening of dam sluice gates brought a tense hours-long emergency to an end.
Four people who were stuck on a motorboat in the Grootdraai Dam were rescued at 22:09 last night.
At the time of publishing last night, Ridge Times reported that the boat was still on the dam wall, but that all four people were safe and unharmed.
The incident was reported at about 19:15 last night.
According to eyewitnesses, the people were seen clinging to the boat, trying to keep it from flowing overboard.
A massive rescue effort was put into action to assist the people before the boat went over the edge.
At about 21:40 last night, in an effort to divert the water flow and save the people, three sluice gates were opened at the dam.
Rescue workers warned campers to evacuate the area because of potential flooding when the gates were opened, and teams were sent out to evacuate campers from the flood line.
The National Sea Rescue Institute, Kasselman Security Services, Delta 1 Rescue Diving and AfriForum Buurtwag worked together in this rescue effort.
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