One of the divers who rescued a woman after she spent more than 12 hours clinging to a branch of a tree in an overflowing Free State river says she was barely hanging on, with her entire body submerged and only her face above the water.
Phuthaditjhaba Fire and Rescue supervisor Mpho Kubheka told Sowetan the woman was so cold and exhausted that her frozen hands could hardly maintain their grip.
Police said the 46-year-old woman had been attacked by a taxi driver who allegedly attempted to rape and rob her before throwing her from a bridge into the raging water on Sunday.