MONDAY-28 JULY 2008- MAN SWIMS TO SAFETY AFTER CAR SWEPT AWAY BY STRONG CURRENTS

Man swims to safety after car swept away by strong currents

PENAMPANG:

A local man was nearly swept away by strong currents when his vehicle fell into the Babagon River during a heavy downpour yesterday evening. The 44-year-old man was trying to cross the river by using a cement bridge when the Charade vehicle was swept into the river after the water level increased at around 6. 30pm. He managed to get out of the vehicle and swam to the river bank to get help. District Police Chief DSP Madang b Usat said a Fire and Rescue Services Department engine rushed to the scene but effort to take the vehicle out from the river failed as the water level was still high. He said the victim was sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. He was reportedly not injured in the incident. Meanwhile, three fire engines rushed to Taman Kepayan to respond to a distress call yesterday. What was initially thought was a burning house turned out to be just an open burning. A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Services Department in Sembulan said that they received the call at 12.22pm and two fire engines from Sembulan and one from Penampang rushed to the place. “We received the call at 12. 22pm and went to the scene. There was thick smoke but when we arrived, it was just open garbage burning,” he said, adding the fire was put out at 12.42pm.