Dramatic rescue for elderly couple trapped in rising flood

Icy flood water had reached the chests of the elderly couple trapped in the dark coloured car in the centre of this picture - photo Hannah Bostride

A boat rescue crew from Barnstaple was called in the get the couple out of the stranded car at Bridge Reeve near Chulmleigh - photo Hannah Bostride

A dramatic rescue was carried out of an elderly couple trapped in their car as flood waters quickly rose around them. A specialist boat crew from Barnstaple was called in to help save the pair at Bridge Reeve near Chulmleigh on Sunday, January 6th.

The Control Operator stayed on the phone with the frightened couple to provide advice and reassurance as the icy water reached the chests of the two occupants in the car.

“It was not safe for them to leave the vehicle due to the fast flow of the water,” said a spokesman for Witheridge Fire Station, who attended along with South Molton. Firefighters in waders were unable to reach the stranded car because the current was too strong.

The boat was launched and the elderly couple were rescued from their vehicle and taken to dry land where they were checked over by ambulance crews. The occupants were said to be uninjured but suffering from the cold.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue warned people never try to drive or walk through flood water, “Vehicles can become stuck and even swept away in just 30cm of flowing water.”

Torrential rain fell as the Environment Agency issued the highest level of alert, Flood Warnings, for both the rivers Taw and Torridge in North Devon.