Only the car's roof was visible after the rescue. Photo: Supplied / Police
Lines workers who rescued a woman from a car sinking into floodwaters near Rotorua on say their "training just kicked in".
Police said the driver called emergency services from Ngakuru saying the water was up to her chest and rising, and she was trapped.
Shivam Chandra and Sam Rangi from lines company Unison told Morning Report they were doing routine checks of the network when they noticed the car floating, then sinking fast - and spotted a woman inside.
"We came around the corner and saw the car submerged in the water. We thought that it was abandoned initially but we stood there for a little while to make sure that it wasn't. We noticed that there was someone in the car - we just acted."
Rangi said their training kicked in and they smashed the window to then pull the woman out.
"I guess our training just kicks in. We train for all sorts of … not so much this one but what we're trained with, it helps us to be able to cater to any kind of situation."
Rangi said he grabbed the hammer, went into the water, saw where the woman was and smashed the window, pulling her out.
It took a "couple of hits, the first one didn't really do it but the second one shattered the window".
Chandra said the woman said she was happy to see them. She was freezing cold, shivering and scared.
Rangi said he was not sure if she would have made it had they not been there before emergency services - as the car was sinking in the flood fast.
After the ordeal, Rangi said he spoke to his boss - asking him if he wanted the good news or the bad news.
He said the good news was "we just saved a life" - but the bad news was they were wet and needed to go home.
Rangi said he had never seen that particular street flood like that before.
On Tuesday, police said Rangi and Chandra put themselves at risk to save a stranger.
"We cannot thank those rescuers enough," Acting Sergeant Kyra Steiner said.
"They likely saved a life today and a family's loved one gets to come home tonight. Had they not been there, it quickly could have gone the other way."
Steiner said the workers were very humble and downplayed their efforts when retelling the story.
"They put themselves at risk to save a stranger who will be forever grateful."
Police were reminding drivers to take it easy in bad weather and not to take unnecessary risks.
"If the road is submerged, don't drive through the water unless you're absolutely certain that you can make it through. If the water is fast-flowing, you're best to find another route or wait for it to recede."
