New Zealand Man Survives Nissan Pickup Plunge into Raging River—Vehicle Sinks, Then Miraculously Resurfaces an Hour Later

Recently, a dramatic incident unfolded on the Ashburton River in Canterbury, New Zealand: off-road enthusiast Jamie Jack attempted to drive his Nissan pickup truck across the fast-flowing braided river, only for the vehicle to be flipped over by the strong current and completely submerged. Fortunately, Jack and his passenger quickly surfaced, and no one was injured. Even more astonishingly, Jack reported that after just about 40 minutes of draining water, cleaning the oil sump, and heating the glow plugs, the vehicle restarted and continued driving normally—completing a round trip to the beach without issue. The video of the incident has already garnered over 35,000 views on Facebook. Local off-roading guides warn that the Ashburton River, with its ever-changing channels and hidden deep pools, should never be crossed by vehicle if it cannot be safely walked through. Experts caution that even if a vehicle appears to operate normally shortly after submersion, water intrusion can still cause hidden damage to the engine, transmission, and electronic systems.