A Murray Bridge woman attempted to drive through floodwaters on Winery Road in Currency Creek on Friday, July 27, calling emergency services before abandoning her car.

The woman floated about 70 metres down the Finniss River before grabbing onto a tree branch where CFS volunteers found her.  The woman informed volunteers that she was unable to continue clutching the branch. 

The rescue helicopter was still half an hour away.

Realising there was no option but to carry out a rescue, Tom McPeake, 16, told his captain Ken Smirke, that he was a “good swimmer” and volunteered to carry out the rescue.

“We put a lifeline on him and with six members holding the other end of the line he was always safe”, Smirke told The Times.

McPeake managed to calm the woman down, tie the lifeline to her and signal the volunteers to reel them in from the river.

The rescued woman is reportedly recovering well at Strathalbyn Hospital and young Tom McPeake is being hailed for his bravery carrying out the rescue.