Bodies of elderly woman and son retrieved from submerged car after river crash

An elderly woman and her son have drowned only a few hundred metres from their mid north coast home after their car plunged into a river.

A crane was used to salvage the car from the river. Picture: Frank Redwood

An elderly woman and her son have drowned only a few hundred metres from their mid north coast home after their car plunged into a river.

Margaret Rodwell, 79, and her son Cameron, 54, were on their way to a birthday party on Wednesday when they attempted a U-turn on Croads Esplanade at Smithtown.

The bodies of a man and woman have been removed from the sedan. Picture: Frank Redwood

MORE NEWS

Earlwood road rager: ‘It was self defence’

Autopsy suggests toddler didn’t die of natural causes

Humiliating apology after glaring HSC error

It is believed as they were reversing the car has continued over an unfenced grassed area for several metres before falling into the Macleay River at 11am.

Emergency services began a frantic search to find the pair, who were submerged in more than four metres of water.

Neighbours said Margaret Rodwell and her son Cameron were always together. Picture: Facebook

Margaret and son Cameron Rodwell were off to a birthday party. Picture: Facebook

Neighbours watched on horrified and helpless as the car submerged in front of them with one friend describing the pair as “always being together.”

A rescue helicopter, marine officers, a NSW Police diving crew and Marine Rescue all searched the murky waters for several hours to try and retrieve the pair but they could not be saved.

Their bodies were recovered at 5pm yesterday.

After the bodies were recovered, the car was lifted out of the river by a crane. Picture: Frank Redwood

A large crane was used to retrieve the gold Mitsubishi sedan an hour later.

“The hardest part for everybody was not being able to do anything. Very sad day for the family,” Angela Dixon told 9 News.

A close friend said the tight-knit community was in shock at the deaths of the well liked pair.

“I’ve known Cameron and Margaret all my life. My closest friend regards them as her only family,” Tianda Adamson said.

“Very close always together and died in such a tragic way.”

Tributes flowed on social media for the pair, including family friends and locals.

The close-knit community were on Wednesday in shock at the pair’s deaths. Picture: Facebook

“Two lovely people would not deserve this RIP both of you and condolences to their family,” Kathryn Claire Smith said.

Jess Sanders posted: “What a tragic accident. Sad day, poor family.”

Tributes to the pair have flowed on social media from family, friends and locals.

“RIP Cameron and Margaret … they were locals,” Chloe Lee Gaskell said on Facebook.

“Mother and son were going to a Birthday Party RIP … they lived on that road,” Leanne Mckay said on Facebook.

There have been 30 deaths on NSW roads so far this year compared with 29 at this time last year.

Family, friends and locals have paid tribute to the well-loved pair. Picture: Facebook