A DOVETON man saved his trapped friend from downing after their car rolled into an open drain full of water.
Police have praised the man for keeping his friend’s head above the water for 20 minutes.
“He would have possibly drowned if it wasn’t for the passengers assistance,” Yarra Junction police Senior Constable Matt Ward said.
The Woori Yallock man, aged in his twenties, lost control of the car as it travelled on Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road towards Woori Yallock about 10.45pm on Saturday, 23 May.
During the crash the car rolled onto its roof and landed in the open drain leaving the driver trapped by his arm.
Sen Const Ward, who assisted in the rescue, said he hadn’t seen anything like it before.
“We had to use the police four wheel drive to winch them out and turn the car back over,” he said.
It took police and CFA about half an hour to free the trapped driver.
“He had to get back in, to hold their head above the water, otherwise he (driver) would have drowned,” Sen Const Ward said.
The driver was pulled out of the car by CFA members and airlifted to The Alfred hospital.
