A group of brave Kenyans swung into action after a saloon car veered off a bridge before falling into Malewa River in Naivasha Town, Nakuru County.
The car had four passengers on board when the driver lost control causing the vehicle to plunge into the river.
Area residents responded fast with a group of local divers swimming into the river to help evacuate the car’s occupants.
One by one, the passengers were ushered to the river’s banks by the determined rescuers.
Among those on board was a woman with a young child. All four passengers escaped unharmed.
Hundreds of residents gathered along the river’s banks to witness the daring rescue.
The rescuers were commended for their rapid response, with eye-witnesses stating that the situation could have been worse without their efforts.
“It’s God that has saved them. If they hit the bridge railing they could die, they are lucky they plunged into the water and the rescuers came very fast,” one noted in a widely-circulated video.
Traffic on the Marewa Bridge which lies on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway was also affected with several vehicles stopping after the accident.
The Marewa Bridge serves as the main bridge connecting Nakuru and Gilgil towns.
In December 2019, motorists were asked to be cautious after the Marewa River burst its banks sparking fears that the bridge could be submerged.
A number of residents of the nearby KCC village were forced to move to higher grounds as their houses were flooded.
“Currently it’s raining heavily in the Aberdares and the floods could submerge this bridge on the highway and motorists should be cautious,” Lake Naivasha Water Resources Association representative Enock Kiminta told reporters at the time.
Watch a video of part of the rescue below courtesy of Standard Digital:The Standard Digital
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Car plunges into a river in Naivasha town, all passengers rescued by area residents (Video Courtesy)
