The body of a man has been recovered after his car rolled through a fence and struck his wife before plunging into the Parramatta River yesterday afternoon.
Emergency services rushed to the boat ramp at Manns Point in Greenwich about 4.20pm yesterday after the car entered the water.
Detective Superintendent Paul Devaney said the couple often visited the river to fish, and they had just unloaded their fishing gear when the car drove into the fence.
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“The male was moving the car to a car park position when the incident occurred,” he said.
”They are husband and wife, they have been coming here every day fishing for a number of years, (they’re) both retired … it is quite a distressing incident.”
A 74-year-old woman had been pulled from the water by a 55-year-old man who was working nearby when he saw the Toyota plunge into the water.
“Upon seeing the incident, he entered the water… supported the 74-year-old female, and he attempted to remove the male from the vehicle, however, he was unable to do so,” Devaney said.
“I informed him we would be submitting an application for recognition for his bravery.”
At 6.30pm, emergency workers found the body of a 83-year-old man in the water after initial search efforts failed.
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Divers are still working on retrieving the vehicle from the river.
“At this stage, we have a complicated recovery operation… the vehicle is in approximately 10 metres of water,”
“Once recovered, that vehicle will be the subject of forensic examination to assist in determining the cause of this incident.”
The 74-year-old woman was treated by paramedics with lower leg injuries.
She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with a suspected broken ankle, bruises, abrasions and shock.
She remains in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigations are underway.
