Moment drivers get trapped in flood water before being rescued by police as heavy rainfall caused by Storm Henk causes chaos on roads
Published: 19:02, 4 January 2024 | Updated: 22:13, 4 January 2024
This is the moment motorists get trapped in deep flood water as heavy rainfall continues to cause chaos on roads across Britain in the wake of Storm Henk.
Footage shows a yellow Mercedes A Class struggling through floodwater with its hazard lights on in the middle of the main road in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.
Other drivers decided to take the risk and overtake the vehicle, before a red BMW also gets stranded in the waist-deep water.
Police were called to help the deserted drivers, with the footage showing a motorist pushing the red car to safety.
It comes after the Met Office[2] warned that Storm Henk would wreak havoc with strong winds and torrential downpours during the first week of the New Year.
The video shows a yellow Mercedes A Class (left) with its hazard lights on in the middle of the main road in Tewkesbury this morning
Other drivers decided to take the risk and overtake the vehicle, however, a second car, a red BMW, then also got stranded in the deep water
Footage shows someone pushing a red car out of the floor water, with police at the scene
Two daring motorcyclists then took the risk and drove through the deep water and were able to get across to the other side without getting stuck
Areas of Southwest England and South Wales experienced powerful guests of around 90 miles per hour during the late morning and early afternoon on Tuesday and Brits were told not to travel.
This comes as Nottinghamshire County Council urged residents in at-risk areas to prepare in case they have to evacuate and said river peaks had closed in on record highs from 2000.
Officials revealed that key tributaries feeding into Trent including the rivers Derwent, Soar and Dove had reached their peaks, meaning high water levels will now pass down the Trent which is likely to lead to more flooding to properties and roads.
Some homes have already been evacuated, while rail passengers were told to travel home early this afternoon as flooding misery continued two days after Henk hit.
Great Western Railway urged customers to avoid starting journeys and said those who had already travelled should consider taking a return train 'as soon as possible'.
Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick[3] Express and South Western Railway also warned of severe disruption later on with speed restrictions already imposed on some lines.
The Met Office initially issued a rain warning across southern England from Cornwall to Suffolk but then extended it northwards over Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
It runs until 3am tomorrow and warns of further power cuts and villages becoming cut off.
A Corsa was filmed driving through the deep water this morning
The main road into the town centre in Tewkesbury was affected
The storm has also claimed a second life, as an 87-year-old woman crashed into a tree.
She was driving a red Smart Forfour - died as a result of the incident, just a few hours after a man in his 50s was killed in a different crash.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, when winds were reaching highs of 94mph.
It happened on the B4526 near the junction with Eastfield Lane at 5.25pm - near Crays Pond, Oxfordshire.
The incident has been reported to the police watchdog - the Independent Office for Police Conduct - as the local station received multiple calls about the fallen tree an hour and a half before.
Officers of Thames Valley Police are asking for witnesses to come forward.
Gatwick AirportMet Office[4][5]References
- ^ Gina Kalsi (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Gatwick (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Gatwick Airport (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Office (www.dailymail.co.uk)