Search teams for ambulance crew swept away by el Nino now seek help from Ol Pejeta

A nurse and driver who went missing after their ambulance was swept away by floods in Doldol, Laikipia North are yet to be found.

This is despite search teams, backed by police and Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) personnel, having covered more than 70km downstream searching for their bodies.

Residents of Soitoudo area in Doldol inspect a wreckage of Laikipia County ambulance which was on Friday night swept away by flash floods with its driver, John Sarioyo and a nurse, Ms Mary Chebet on board. Kenya Red Cross Society officials, police and members of the public launched a massive search for the bodies of the two, while the wreckage of the ambulance was recovered about 300 metres downstream on November 21, 2015. (PHOTO: JOB WERU/STANDARD)

The ambulance, belonging to Doldol District Hospital, was washed away by floods on Friday night after it got stuck in sand. The driver, John Sarioyo, and nurse, Mary Chebet, were heading back to Doldol after transferring a patient to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Witnesses said the driver discovered that the river was swollen with flood water, but he managed to cross.

"But the vehicle got stuck at the banks, and they both started telephoning people as they sought help," said Francis Mepukori.

And yesterday, KRCS official Anthony Kuria said the Laikipia County government was approaching Ol Pejeta Conservancy to facilitate the search teams with sniffer dogs to help trace the bodies.

He said search teams had gone downstream up to Kipsing but in vain. On Saturday, soldiers from the British Army used their helicopters to help trace the bodies along the river line and they discovered a pool of stagnant water where they directed the search teams.

"We went there but we did not recover bodies and we proceeded to Kipsing," Mr Kuria said.

Solomon Pusi, a youth leader, said search teams recovered a trouser and a shirt believed to belong to Mr Sarioyo, and a purse that was suspected to belong to Ms Chebet.

"We have dispatched more youths along the river line. They are combing Losokut, Kerechure and Kisping areas. If we don't succeed in retrieving the bodies, we will extend the search to Ewaso Nyiro River," said Mr Pusi.

He noted that the wreckage of the ambulance was still at the scene, about 300m from where it was swept away.

"We hope that the military will deploy their recovery equipment to remove the vehicle from the scene," Pusi said.