A car left the road and ended up in the swollen river Boina near Rasmalho, Portimão yesterday and was dragged along by the strong curent.
The British woman driver was rescued by two locals after her Renault 5 left the EN266 Monchique to Portimão route and plunged four metres into the river, heavy with the recent torrential rainfall.
The vehicle was dragged along by the water but quick to react locals Rui Francisco and Orlando Duarte heard the crash from 500 metres away, ran to help but near the scene had to cut their way through reeds and greenery to get to the stranded woman.
"She was screaming for help in English. I told her not to open the door to prevent the water flooding in, but she wanted to get out of the car and ended up clinging to some canes," said Rui Francisco.
"She was already losing strength, but I held out my hand and I could just grab hers," said Orlando Duarte who managed to drag her to safety.
Meanwhile, the Renault was gone, swept downstream by the strong current.
The emergency services were called and the shocked Briton was taken by the Portimão bombeiros to the local hospital.
"She was suffering from hypothermia and had some bruises," said Fernando Águas, head of the bombeiros team which later found the vehicle 200 metres downstream where they left it until the river subsides and it can safely be recovered.
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