Early on Thursday morning, a 32-year-old woman drowned when her car entered the water at the Gqeberha harbour.
What happened at the Gqeberha harbour?
According to the local police, the victim was attempting to load the vehicle onto a ship when she suddenly accelerated.
This unexpected move caused her to strike a barrier, resulting in the car breaking through and ending up submerged in the harbour waters.
Witnesses at the scene described a sudden and forceful acceleration as the victim approached the ship.
The vehicle collided with a harbour barrier, which led to the Ford Ranger plunging into the water. Efforts to control the vehicle appeared futile as it quickly sank.
What was the response to the drowning?
According to police spokesperson Captain Janse van Rensburg, the woman was unable to escape from the vehicle, which completely disappeared underwater within minutes.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and police divers were deployed to locate and retrieve the victim’s body. Her remains were subsequently taken to the local mortuary.
The ongoing investigation into the incident is being conducted by local police, who, on Thursday afternoon, were caught on camera retrieving the vehicle from the ocean.
The identity of the deceased has not yet been released to the public, pending notification of her family. She was known to be an employee at the vehicle terminal.
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