PRETORIA – The body of a man was found in a motor vehicle that was stuck on a low-water bridge in Hennops Park, Centurion, on Sunday morning.

According to Ruan Heyns, spokesperson for Cert SA, they responded to a call for assistance around 07:00 when someone reported a motor vehicle was stuck at the End Street low-water bridge.

“When we arrived, a white utility vehicle was pinned against a tree near the river bank and largely submerged underwater.

“We could not respond to such a situation, and thus called in specialised rescue units from Gauteng emergency medical services and the police’s dive unit.”

ALSO READ: Government warns over bogus labour inspectors

Heyns said it took them about seven hours to access the vehicle to determine whether anyone was inside.

“Upon further investigation by rescuers, sadly a man’s body was found inside the vehicle. It was believed that he drowned.”

Heyns said police managed to contact the man’s family.

“They confirmed that he has been missing since Saturday.

“We thank the Gauteng emergency medical services, CPF units, police, ER24, Monitor Net and volunteers who assisted.”

Cert SA is a non-profit and public beneficiary organisation and is solely reliant on donations to keep on providing services to the community free of charge.

A spokesperson for ER24, Ross Campbell, said it was unknown as to how the vehicle ended up in the Hennops river, but two passing cyclists spotted it and called for help suspecting that the driver was trapped inside.

“Many attempts were made to get to the vehicle in the raging river by the rescue crews. By just before 13:00 the divers along with GPG Rescue managed to pull the body of a man from the submerged vehicle.

“ER24 declared the man dead on arrival and handed the scene over to the South African Police Services.”

Spokesperson for Wierdabrug police, Sergeant Divine Nkuna confirmed the incident.

“The deceased was first reported missing, and was found having drowned in the vehicle.”