Amid every natural disaster there are usually tales of extreme heroism of people putting life and limb on the line to safe the life of another.

The recent flooding in Limpopo was no exception, with not only one person but a whole community who rallied without hesitation to rescue a woman left stranded by the raging floodwaters of the Mutale River at her riverside home.

The drama unfolded at Bende Mutale near Pafuri on 20 January. Sari Landman, a woman who has been part of the village for a good six years, was left stranded after the river had risen to such extreme heights overnight as a result of extensive rains that her home was cut off from the main land. After being advised to climb the largest tree, Sari climbed on top of her house, hoping that it would not be washed away by the rising water.

As soon as the people of Bende Mutale became aware of Sari’s plight, a rescue party was formed.

A team was assembled quickly and a rope was tied around Martin Fouché, camp manager of Pafuri River Camp, and the strongest-looking tree stump, so he could assess the flow of the water. By this time, Thomas Takadzani, a resident of Bende Mutale, had already bravely jumped into the water and begun swimming across to help Sari. “Never before has anyone seen a man swim with such strength across raging waters,” onlookers later remarked.

Thomas arrived on Sari’s bank safely and began preparing a 100m-long length of pipe to send across to meet Martin, who was now halfway across the water. By joining the pipe and the rope, the team made a line across the water that could be held onto to prevent their being washed away by the extremely strong current.

More men swam across the raging river to help keep Sari secure against the line, so that she didn’t fall. Taking it step-by-step, Sari bravely entered the water and began her journey across.

Many of the people from the village had gathered and held the rope up as high as possible, as the flow was so strong that, if the rope touched the water, it could have easily pulled the whole group down.

After arriving on the bank, a relieved Sari remarked that if it weren’t for the men’s strength in securing her to the line, she would not have been able to move, due to the force of the water. Only once she took hold of their shoulders, the men could pull her as she floated through. Were it not for a brave woman and a brilliant group of people, all heroes, the rescue would not have been possible.

In amazingly high spirits, Sari retired to Pafuri River Camp for a much-needed hot cup of tea. She is spending some time with friends while the damage to her house is repaired.