A 24-year-old woman is in a serious condition after hijackers forced her out of her vehicle and pushed her over the Umkomaas River Bridge on the N2 south in Chatsworth , Netcare 911 said on Saturday.

Spokesperson Jeff Wicks said the woman was plunged almost 60 metres below the bridge on Friday night and landed in shallow water.

She sustained chest, head and spinal injuries that left her immobile and unable to pull herself out, said Wicks.

The woman managed to keep herself afloat for over four hours before a passer-by heard her cries for help and rushed to her aid at the river bank and called for help.

Wicks said fire-fighters, who arrived first on scene, pulled the woman out from the water and placed her onto an embankment before paramedics attended to her.

She was also treated for hypothermia before being airlifted to the Netcare St Augustine's Hospital in Durban and in a serious but stable condition.

Her hijackers are still being sought by police, said Wicks.

Sapa

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