WATCH: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Message To Pilots Who Saved Kenyan Driver From Floods
One of Hollywood's biggest superstars applauded the efforts of the Carr-Hartley brothers
Marvin Chege 
Taru Carr-Hartley and his younger brother Roan Carr-Hartley, helicopter (chopper pilots) from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust received an unexpected endorsement on Sunday, May 7 from American actor, film producer, and former professional wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
One of Hollywood's biggest superstars applauded the efforts of the Carr-Hartley brothers who teamed up for a daring rescue mission of a Kenyan driver whose fuel tanker was swept away by flooding water along the Galana-Kulalu causeway on Wednesday, May 3.
Johnson, in a personalised video seen by Viral Tea, expressed his reaction to the pilots who braved the odds to save the driver trapped in the floods caused by the ongoing heavy rains, likening the mission to his experience while playing the role of a helicopter pilot in the movie San Andreas.
Below is the video:
"I just want to say that I was so impressed, so moved and so inspired by your act of courage, valour and heroism as you saved that man whose truck was tipped over. I have had the great fortune and privilege to play a helicopter pilot in situations like that but you guys are the real deal.
"In my little bit of training and research, I understand how difficult that is and I was so moved by that, I was so incredibly impressed and I just wanted to give you guys so much love and to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the larger organisation, what incredible work that you guys do as well," he stated.
Johnson celebrated the two pilots as well as The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants and rhinos in Kenya and which is headed by the Carr-Hartley brothers' mother, Angela Sheldrick
"I'm sending you so much love, so much respect. I'm giving you guys your flowers and keep up the incredible work, I was so moved by that. Sheldrick of course, the wildlife trust, you guys do incredible work inspiring and...I was really moved by the moment and thank you for all that you do on behalf of preserving wildlife, taking care of our animals and helping me understand more as I try to learn a little bit more on how to be better," he went on.
The Carr-Hartley brothers were born into a family that was deeply involved in wildlife conservation.
Taru revealed on Saturday, May 6 that he received a distress call from a Sheldrick Field Manager at Galana, around 4 pm on the day of the incident regarding the fuel tanker which encountered floods after ferrying fuel to the Galana National Irrigation Board (NIB).
The floods were a result of rising flood waters on the driver's return across the Sabaki River due to heavy rains upstream. NIB had deployed a tractor to help pull out the lorry but by the time it arrived, the river's fast-rising waters had pushed the truck off the causeway and into deep waters, scuttling the rescue operation.
"The lorry was pushed sideways by the rising water and two of its wheels went off the concrete causeway making it stuck," Taru told the Nation.
"Thankfully, we were in a position to scramble the helicopter as soon as possible and rush down there. About 45 minutes from the call, we managed to be on-site," he added.
Taru could determine that the driver was reportedly stuck in the flooded river in a precarious position and infested by crocodiles and hippos, but when Taru and his brother, Roan were seen to be trying to rescue him, he began making moves to get to the helicopter.
"When I looked through the chopper's window, I could see the windscreen was smashed and the whole cabin was filling up with water. I'm sure that it was extremely frightening and challenging to be stuck on that lorry for all that time," he said.
Taru however noted that hovering the helicopter just inches above the lorry was a tough task that required concentration, amidst dealing with a crosswind from his left side as well as the rushing water underneath, especially when hovering very still.
He thus had to focus on the truck intently so that he did not move away too far and being aware that one mistake could put Roan's life at risk.
Sheldrick Wildlife Trust pilots rescuing a driver stuck in an overturned tanker on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. /SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST
"I could see from the corner of my eye that Roan has gotten off the helicopter. So now he is standing on the truck helping the driver into the helicopter but I'm mindful since he's still harnessed to the helicopter so if I drift ever so slightly left I'll pull him off the truck and into the river and he'll be hanging below the helicopter," he went on.
Taru also had to ensure that the distance between the helicopter and the lorry remained constant throughout the operation to allow Roan enough time to get the driver on board.
The first thing the driver did when he entered the helicopter was to express his gratitude to the two brothers.
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