Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN
Video Credit: CEN
This is the moment hero cops are almost dragged downstream by a powerful river as they try to save an elderly couple trapped in the fast-flowing water.
The scene was recorded by an onlooker at the Pance river, in the municipality of Cali, in the western Colombian department of Valle del Cauca.
Local media report a 61-year-old woman, who has not been named, fell into the river as she was posing for a photograph and was swept downstream.
Pictures Credit: CEN
Her husband, whose name has not been reported, is then said to have jumped into the water to try and save her when he was swept downstream himself.
Local scout leader Jhonatan Munoz reportedly noticed the couple in the water and notified police officer Jhonatan Rincon Montealegre, who jumped into the river to rescue the pair.
In the video, a police officer in a luminous green jacket can be seen holding onto a rope as another rescuer tries to help the woman use it to keep her feet and walk out of the river.
The woman loses her footing in the strong current and the police officer is dragged downstream as the other rescuer tries to help her back to her feet.
All for people in the river end up off their feet but the woman manages to reach the bank and is pulled out by waiting rescuers.
A human chain is then formed to help pull the husband to safety
Another angle shows how rescuers worked to tie the rope around the woman’s waist to stop her from being swept away.
Montealegre told reporters: “We heard a commotion and the desperation of people because the river was dragging a lady, and with my colleagues and the Scout member we went to the rescue.”
Local media report the rescue operation took 30 minutes and Montealegre said: “In that moment you feel a bit of adrenaline and fear because the river had a lot of water”.
“We set up a system with ropes, it was very difficult because there was a strong current.”
The officer said the woman had suffered light injuries and cuts in the incident and was sent to a nearby clinic for medical attention.
The Pance river is susceptible to flash flooding, according to local media.
