Skipper saves man from sinking car
A 77-year-old man was rescued from his submerged car by a quick-thinking skipper after driving off the vehicle ferry at Molloy Island, near Augusta.
The man was driving his Hyundai onto the ferry at about 11.30am when he is believed to have over-accelerated, Augusta Senior Constable Antony Gillam said.
Const Gillam said ferry operator Robin Evernden acted quickly to save the man's life.
“The vehicle has submerged into the water and the ferry operator has driven forward with the ferry and managed to pierce the roof of the car, so the car has been suspended by the ferry,” he said.
“He’s jumped into the water, smashed a window and dragged him out through a window.”
Mr Evernden has only worked for the ferry service for about two months and said this sort of incident was definitely not in the job description.
“We just had a car that overshot the ferry and ended up in the river and we managed to pull him out,” he said.
“You just do what you do.
“The guy has been taken to hospital and he’s okay.”
Police check the car after recovering it from the Blackwood River. Picture: Augusta police
Const Gillam said the Mr Evernden also managed to open the car's hatch to save the man’s dog.
Ferry services were stopped for more than an hour as the car, which was written off in the incident, was recovered.
The driver was taken to Augusta Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia and shock.
The man’s dog was taken to a local vet with minor cuts.
Const Gillam said police would speak with the man when he was released from hospital.
The 77-year-old's partially submerged car. Picture: Augusta police.
