Divers search river for man who drove into water

Police divers have recovered the body of an elderly man who drove his car into the water at a popular fishing spot on Sydney’s lower north shore, hitting his wife as he crashed through a fence.

The 86-year-old’s body was pulled from the water about 6.30pm, just over two hours after emergency services launched a search for the man.

The car accelerated into the water, hitting the driver’s 74-year-old wife, near Manns Point boat ramp at Greenwich about 4.20pm on Monday and floated away as it quickly took on water with the driver inside, police said.

Police divers arrived on the scene in the early evening to begin an underwater search for the car and its driver.

“We have grave concerns for the unaccounted-for person,” Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said on Monday.

The driver’s wife was standing near the water’s edge when she was struck by the car as it went through the fence, pushing her into the water.

A passerby rescued the woman after jumping into the river, five metres below where she had fallen Another witness also entered the water and helped the woman onto a nearby boat.

She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with a suspected broken ankle, bruises, abrasions and shock.