(Trinidad Guardian) Members of the T&T Fire Service Search and Rescue team, the Hunters Search and Rescue team, T&T Police Service and villagers were on Wednesday night trying to locate a farmer who was feared dead after she was washed away by floodwaters while attempting to cross a ravine in Surrey Village, Lopinot.
Police said Theresa Lynch, 44, and her 45-year-old brother William Ramlogan were attempting to cross the ravine, near Mc David Trace, around 1 pm to escape floodwaters while returning from her garden, when she slipped and fell into the raging waters.
Ramlogan tried to rescue her but his body was thrown against rocks because of the current and he had to let go of Teresa’s hand to save his own life. Ramlogan was eventually rescued by other farmers who had heard his cries for help but they could not find Lynch.
A search and rescue mission was immediately launched by Lopinot villagers when they learned Lynch had been taken downstream. They were later joined by the Fire Service, police and the Hunters Search and Rescue team.
The search took the party downriver to the Arima River, along the Arima Old Road.
However, members of the search party told Guardian Media they were not too optimistic that Lynch would be found alive considering the water level and the debris brought down in the ravine due to yesterday’s flooding.
Distraught relatives milled around during the search hoping that their loved one had managed to find her way to safety.
Lynch’s brother was warded at the hospital last night nursing injuries from attempting to save his sister.
This was not the only incident where someone was swept away by floodwaters yesterday. A D’abadie man also escaped death, after he was rescued from raging floodwaters by his nephew.