Body is found after car accidentally struck a woman and plunged into the water at Greenwich

• Body of 86-year-old man found in Parramatta River
• Man accidentally ran over his wife before driving car into river
• Wife was rescued from the river

By BRETT LACKEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 23:33 BST, 14 April 2025 | Updated: 00:35 BST, 15 April 2025

The body of an elderly man has been found in a Sydney river after he accidentally ran over his wife while trying to park at a popular fishing spot, before driving into the water.  

Emergency services were called to Manns Point at Greenwich at about 4.15pm on Monday following reports a car had accelerated through a car park, struck a woman, ploughed through a fence and then entered the Parramatta River.

Witnesses said the couple had just arrived at the fishing spot and the woman exited the car while the man parked. It is understood he put his foot on the accelerator by accident.

Officers from North Shore Police Area Command, along with Marine Area Command and Fire and Rescue NSW attended the scene and a 74-year-old woman was rescued from the water.

Police said two witnesses swam out and helped the woman onto a NSW Maritime vessel, with one Good Samaritan jumping five metres from a ledge into the water.

The woman was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said following an intensive search operation, the body of the 86-year-old man was recovered from the river about 6.30pm Monday.

A crime scene was established, and detectives commenced an investigation into the incident.

 The body of an elderly man has been found in the Parramatta River after he accidentally ran over his wife while trying to park at a popular fishing spot, before driving into the water

Emergency services remained at the scene on Monday night after the car crashed through a fence and ended up in the river 

Police are also working to recover the vehicle for a forensic examination.

Photos from the scene on Monday showed only a small fence blocked the car park from a sharp drop into the water.

An abandoned esky and fishing rod was on a park bench metres away from the broken fence.  

The depth of the river made the search effort difficult, with the car coming to rest 10m underwater.

Rescuers were also hampered by strong currents in the Parramatta River, which is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour.

‘The vehicle was bobbing but has completely sunk in the harbour… you cannot see it from the shoreline or above,’ Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

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Body is found after car accidentally struck a woman and plunged into the water at Greenwich

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