A 47-year-old man who was stranded in a tree in the Letaba River in Tzaneen have been rescued after four days. Image: Limpopo COGHSTA
A man who was stranded in a tree in the Letaba River in Tzaneen has finally been rescued.
A 47-year-old man who was stranded in a tree in the Letaba River in Tzaneen have been rescued after four days. Image: Limpopo COGHSTA
Watch the video of how they rescued a man stranded in a tree in the Letaba River in Tzaneen, Limpopo, after four long days without water or food on Wednesday, 15 February 2023.
The man was safely airlifted after being stranded for four long days without food in a makeshift shelter in a tree in the Letaba River.
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Limpopo Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC, Basikopo Makamu, says the 47-year-old Isaac Ratlhane is alive and well.
He has been holding on for dear life in a makeshift shelter since Sunday, 12 February 2023.
“Due to the constant heavy rainfall, it was impossible for him to make his way back to the riverbank. But on Wednesday afternoon, he was finally rescued and airlifted by helicopter. He was taken to a stand-by ambulance and received medical attention. He kept sending signals to the rescue team that he was ok,” says Makamu.
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The provincial Search and Rescue Unit has been working tirelessly to retrieve him. However, these efforts were cut short in the wee hours of Wednesday morning due to the current violence.
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Our Disaster Management members have collaborated with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to dispatch a helicopter. That was the best intervention to get the man to safety,” Makamu said.
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She said they were apprehensive about the man’s well-being during these four days. This is because he had been without water or food for four days,” says Makamu.