Pilots from Sheldrick Wildlife Trust pulled daring stunts to save a tanker driver swept away by flooding water along the Galana-Kulalu causeway on Wednesday, May 3.
The driver was reportedly driving across the causeway when the tanker overturned after being overpowered by flowing water from a nearby river.
He remained stuck at the same spot for over 6 hours, calling for help from the nearby residents. However, due to the strong winds and the intensity of the water, the residents could not pull the driver out.
He was forced to tangle on the upper side of the tanker from 10:00 am to around 4:30 pm when one of the managers within that region alerted Sheldrick Wildlife Trust pilots.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust pilots led by Taru Carr-Hartley and Roan Carr-Hartley flew to the scene and spotted the driver hanging by the side of the overturned tanker.
Taru flew the helicopter inches down near the overturned truck while his co-pilot Roan strapped himself before descending from the plane to save the driver.
After six hours wait, the pilots pulled the driver from the overturned tanker. It was, however, not immediately established if they also managed to pull the tanker from the flooding water along the Galana-Kulalu causeway.
The incident came after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) warned motorists to exercise caution while driving through flooded areas.
"KeNHA would like to notify motorists to take caution during rainy season due to incidents of flooding," the authority stated after cases of flooding in various parts of the country.
Sheldrick Pilots Saving a Boy in Tsavo
On December 5, 2022, Shedrick Wildlife Trust pilots saved a boy stranded in Tsavo East National Park after six days in the wilderness.
Roan spotted the boy in Tsavo and led the other pilots to rescue him.
"Four hours of scanning revealed nothing but hyenas and jackals, then I saw a tiny boy surrounded by endless wilderness. I was in shock that he was still alive and walking," Roan explained.
