By Deborah Nnamdi
A potential tragedy was averted in Okpanam, Delta State, after residents and passersby successfully rescued a man who was being swept away by floodwaters during a heavy downpour on Friday afternoon.
Videos of the dramatic rescue, which surfaced online on Saturday, captured the tense moments as concerned residents battled to save the unidentified victim from a flooded drainage channel.
In one of the clips, several men were seen standing in the rain and struggling to pull the man from a deep ditch where he had become trapped beneath fast-moving floodwaters.
The footage showed a chaotic scene as residents gathered around the area, shouting instructions and offering prayers while rescue efforts continued.
Witnesses expressed fear for the man’s safety as the floodwater carried him through the drainage system.
“God save him! God have mercy! What is holding him inside the water?” a distressed woman was heard shouting.
Another eyewitness described the frightening situation, saying the victim had nearly disappeared beneath the floodwaters.
“From that side, I was seeing only his head. The water was carrying him away,” the witness said.
A follow-up video showed the man after he was successfully rescued from the drainage channel.
The visibly exhausted victim was seen sitting on the roadside while residents and rescuers checked on his condition and offered assistance.
Residents who witnessed the incident described the rescue as miraculous, citing the speed and force of the floodwaters.
One woman, who observed the rescue from a nearby balcony, expressed gratitude that the man survived the ordeal.
“God is merciful; it’s a miracle. The water carried him from the end of the road till he got here,” she said.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by flooding and open drainage systems during heavy rainfall, with residents calling for improved drainage infrastructure and greater caution during severe weather conditions.
