South Africa (Mpumalanga): A tour guide, Michael Turner, was travelling from Mozambique to pick up tourists in Mpumalanga Komatipoort when the vehicle he was driving got swept away by a heavy current and stuck in the middle of the River on Thursday, 28 December 2023.
There were attempts to reach the person from the land by police rescue divers, which were called off as it got dark.
On Friday, 29 December 2023, at 10h35, Oryx 1201 based at Air Base Hoedspruit, 19 Squadron, was activated for a rescue mission in the Komatipoort Area with a crew consisting of Major Johannes Frederick (Joé) Hattingh, Captain Marthinus Jacobus (Marco) Venter, Warrant Officer Jason Buglass, joined by the Acting Officer Commanding Air Force Base Hoedspruit, Lieutenant Colonel Stefan (Stef) King as rescue Coordinator and a possible rescuer.
The mission was to assist with in rescuing the tour guide who was stuck on the low level of the flooded Bridge in the Komati River as swiftly and safely as possible.
Turner was still stuck in the early morning of Friday, 29 December 2023, with failed attempts by different role-players to reach him. As the Oryx arrived on the scene, he was immediately spotted, and it was decided that Lieutenant Colonel King should be hoisted down to fetch him.
He managed to rescue Turner, and both were hoisted to safety with precision. The Oryx landed on the Komatipoort Golf Course, and the Emergency Medical personnel services took over to assist Turner as he was dehydrated, hungry, and in shock from the entire ordeal.
The rescue mission was successful due to the help, hard work, and dedication of the Air Base Hoedspruit,19 squadron aircrew, SARZA Nelspruit, and Police Divers.
Motorists across South Africa are urged to avoid crossing flooded roads and low-level bridges, risking their lives and those of their passages, as well as their assets.