Dive Team Rescues Driver from Flood Waters

The Effingham County Dive Team rescued a mother and daughter overnight whose vehicle was swept off a roadway by high waters.

The call came at 11:52pm Thursday into Cumberland County, near Montrose. Dive Team Commander Terry Trueblood said it was a "swift water rescue" about four miles north of Montrose and two miles east on 400th Avenue.

A Dive Team command officer was on scene within 16 minues of being dispatched and the team van and personnel arrived within the hour. Trueblood said the water was very swift and deep, enough that the van the vicitms were riding in was washed some 50 yards downstream and pinned against trees and debris. The occupants, shaken by their ordeal, were awaiting rescue from the top of the van. The water was estimated at four to five feet deep. 

Team members deployed a Zodiac boat and maneuvered through brush-filled waters and came alongside the van and secured the victims with lifejackets and then moved them to the safety of the boat, then to shore to waiting EMS personnel.

Montrose Fire District and Cumberland County sheriff's personnel were also on scene and provided manpower and lighting equipment. 

Trueblood said, "These are the calls we train for; it was a bit dicey, but our team made it look routine; it was anything but that, this was a true water rescue, like you might see on TV.

Shelby County Dive Team was placed on backup to cover Effingham County in the event of another call, but fortunately were not needed.