A young police officer has been praised for her “selfless” actions after she helped rescue a 60-year-old woman from her car that plunged into a creek on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The 60-year-old driver crashed into the creek after the car lost control on Pittwater Road near Dee Why at around 12.30pm on Sunday.
The car crashed through bushes and landed in Dee Why Lagoon.
Officers from the Northern Beaches Police Area Command found the driver – and sole occupant of the VW Golf sedan – still in the partially submerged car.
Probationary officer Kiesha McJannet (pictured) is praised by her superiors for saving a woman trapped in her sinking car near a popular Sydney beach
The 60-year-old woman and sole occupant of the vehicle was free just before the car became completely submerged at Dee Why Lagoon, in Sydney’s north
NSW Police said in a news release on Sunday morning that the driver was recovering in hospital after being pulled from the car by probation officer Kiesha McJannet.
Officer McJanet saved the woman from drowning and freed her from the car who was ‘quickly taking on water’.
The car was completely submerged within a short time after the woman was rescued.
NSW Ambulance Paramedics assessed the 60-year-old at the scene before she was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for observation.
Acting Inspector Adrian De Visser praised Constable McJannet for her efforts.
“Probation officer McJannet has only been with the New South Wales Police since June 2023 – her selfless actions in entering the water and rescuing a woman from a precarious position are to be commended,” he said.
Crews will attempt to remove the vehicle from the lagoon on Sunday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.