‘Terrified!’ British safari guide, 56, survives clinging to car in crocodile-infested waters after driving off bridge following satnav

A British safari guide has survived by clinging on to his car in crocodile-infested waters after driving off a bridge when following his satnav.

Mike Turner, 56, took a wrong turn and landed in the Komati river near Kruger National Park in South Africa.

He was driving his 10-seater game-viewing vehicle through heavy rain on Thursday night as he was going to pick up guests in neighbouring Mozambique.

The satnav app meant Turner did not take the N4 highway bridge and he instead ended up a few miles downstream in strong currents.

Turner managed to drive against the current and wedge his truck between the river and a narrow bridge.

Search-and-rescue volunteers were unable to reach him due to the terrifying conditions.

Turner survived the 15-hour ordeal as his car was flooded and crocodiles watched on.

Turner, originally from Cumbria, told The Times: “I was absolutely terrified.”

Pottie Potgieter, who coordinated the rescue mission, added: “He thought he was going to die, but in the end I think he felt a bit stupid.

“He said he had been following Google Maps and it took him what was the shortest, but obviously not the best route. But he still went ahead and followed it.”

He continued: “It was a miserable night for him.

“He could easily have ended up left in bits and pieces by the crocodiles or taken downriver to the waterfall.”

Turner, who was later treated for dehydration, hunger and shock, was airlifted to safety after the bad weather finally broke.

Google and other GPS maps have come under increased scrutiny in recent years after users blamed them for directing them into unnecessary risk.

Google Maps is said to be removing a route to a township in Cape Town after a string of tourists were guided into danger.

The app was taking tourists through one of South Africa’s most violent neighbourhoods.