A 74-year-old Eaglehawk woman is lucky to be alive after she was swept away in flood waters in Elmore about 7.15pm last night.
Police have been told the woman was driving in convoy with a friend, along Elmore-Raywood Road, when their vehicles were impacted by flood water.
One of the vehicles was swept off the road into Bendigo Creek at Naughtons Bridge before travelling about 100 metres downstream.
The Eaglehawk woman was able to make her way to a tree before a local man, known as Mitch, stepped in and swam out to the woman to help.
Police understand ‘Mitch’ swam out to the woman several times before he was able to use a ratchet strap to secure the woman to the tree.
Mitch stayed with the woman making sure she was ok, for up to an hour, while emergency services responded and headed to the scene.
“If it was my grandma, I’d hope someone would do the same thing.”
Mitch told Melbourne radio station 3AW this morning
“I called the neighbour and said, ‘I just need help with the bridge, come now’,” he said. “I sort of just took off my boots and jumped in.”
Mitch said when he reached the woman, the car had disappeared into the water.
“You could just see the back windshield of it,” he said.
State Emergency Service personnel were first on scene before two Victoria Police Swift Water Rescue Teams arrived.
The teams, including members from both the Water Police and Search and Rescue Squad, deployed a vessel into the water to rescue the pair.
The pair were rescued and checked by paramedics. No injuries were reported.
The woman from the other vehicle, even though surrounded by flood water was very lucky her car wasn’t swept away. She was assisted by members of the public and made it to dry ground.
Police thanked the good samaritan who risked his own life to jump into the water, secure the woman and stay with her providing reassurance and care.
