Nurse, driver feared dead as floods sweep away ambulance in Laikipia
Residents of Doldol in Laikipia county view a wreckage of an ambulance that was swept away after seasonal River Loisukut broke its banks on November 21, 2015. Two people, a nurse and a driver who were aboard are feared dead and efforts to recover their bodies have started. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The ambulance was returning to Doldol hospital in Laikipia North sub-county after rushing a pregnant woman to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital when it was washed away by the swollen Loisukut seasonal river.
- The wreckage of the ambulance was recovered 300 metres from the crossing point but the occupants were nowhere to be found.
- Laikipia North deputy county commissioner Kamau Ndung’u said the ambulance driver got stuck in the sand that had blocked the crossing point before the level of water increased and washed it away.
A nurse and a driver are feared dead after floods swept away an ambulance belonging to Laikipia county government on Friday night.
It was the second incident to occur at the spot in the week as a woman who was herding sheep was swept away on Saturday last week.
Her body was yet to be recovered a week later after seven days of searching despite having been spotted at Kipsing more than 50 kilometres.
The ambulance was returning to Doldol hospital in Laikipia North sub-county after rushing a pregnant woman to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital when it was washed away by the swollen Loisukut seasonal river.
The wreckage of the ambulance was recovered 300 metres from the crossing point but the occupants were nowhere to be found.
“We recovered some of the clothing downstream but we are yet to find the bodies,” a Red Cross official Mr Anthony Kuria said.
Residents and colleagues of the driver and the nurse said the two made frantic calls seeking help before the vehicle was washed downstream.
“She called me at around 11pm and informed me that the vehicle was being washed away by the river and asked me to help and called the local police station for help,” a nurse Ms Sarah Gakii said at the scene.
Laikipia North deputy county commissioner Kamau Ndung’u said the ambulance driver got stuck in the sand that had blocked the crossing point before the level of water increased and washed it away.
Two parties were formed to help with the search of three bodies. By yesterday afternoon no recovery had been made.
