Woman fights river to get to birthday party

Wendy Grylls wanted to make it to the 90th birthday celebration for her father Bob Scott (pictured). File photo / Brett Phibbs

A 61-year-old woman's determination to make it to her father's 90th birthday party kept her alive after she was swept 2.5 kilometres down the Opihi River in south Canterbury.

Wendy Grylls, from the Coromandel, was on her way to a friend's house at Pleasant Point, north of Timaru, on Saturday night when the river bank collapsed and she slid into the swollen waters about 9.45pm.

She was in the water for up to 40 minutes before spending hours scrabbling around in the darkness to safety, the Timaru Herald reported.

"She's extremely lucky to come out and to come out uninjured ... we have had people die in the river basically in exactly the same situation," Senior Constable Mike Stephens said.

Mrs Grylls, daughter of All Black legend Bob Scott, said she told herself she had to make it to her father's birthday party next month. "I really did want to be there. I feel really pleased to still be alive."

She was treated for cuts and bruises to her legs.

- NZPA