This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/12/tree-car-devon-flood-rescue
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pair take refuge in tree after car caught in Devon flood | Pair take refuge in tree after car caught in Devon flood |
| (8 days later) | |
| A woman and her 13-year-old daughter were rescued by firefighters after clambering on to the branches of a tree when their car was washed into a flooded river. | A woman and her 13-year-old daughter were rescued by firefighters after clambering on to the branches of a tree when their car was washed into a flooded river. |
| The pair were crossing a bridge over the river Torridge near the village of Sheepwash, in Devon, when their car was swept into the torrent. It became wedged against a tree and the only way for them to escape as the water rose around them was to climb out through the sunroof. | The pair were crossing a bridge over the river Torridge near the village of Sheepwash, in Devon, when their car was swept into the torrent. It became wedged against a tree and the only way for them to escape as the water rose around them was to climb out through the sunroof. |
| Just before the car was completely covered with water, mother and daughter climbed from the roof of the car into the tree. As darkness fell, the girl managed to call the emergency services. Firefighters passed them an inflated boom to hang on to and put a net across the river downstream to catch the pair if they fell into the water. | Just before the car was completely covered with water, mother and daughter climbed from the roof of the car into the tree. As darkness fell, the girl managed to call the emergency services. Firefighters passed them an inflated boom to hang on to and put a net across the river downstream to catch the pair if they fell into the water. |
| A search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was scrambled but could not get to the pair because of the tree canopy. Instead a specialist fire rescue team from Barnstaple reached the mother and daughter in a boat while a team from south western ambulance service's hazardous area response team (Hart) stood by. | A search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was scrambled but could not get to the pair because of the tree canopy. Instead a specialist fire rescue team from Barnstaple reached the mother and daughter in a boat while a team from south western ambulance service's hazardous area response team (Hart) stood by. |
| Martin Davis, specialist rescue adviser for Devon and Somerset fire and rescue, praised the 13-year-old girl for giving the accurate information they needed to carry out the rescue. He said: "This was truly a multi-agency response involving the military helicopter, the Hart response crew and the fire service with a united and common aim to save a mother and daughter in perilous danger." | Martin Davis, specialist rescue adviser for Devon and Somerset fire and rescue, praised the 13-year-old girl for giving the accurate information they needed to carry out the rescue. He said: "This was truly a multi-agency response involving the military helicopter, the Hart response crew and the fire service with a united and common aim to save a mother and daughter in perilous danger." |
| The fire service issued a warning about the danger of attempting to negotiate flooded roads. A spokesman said: "Floodwater can rise rapidly and has immense power, easily pushing a vehicle into deeper water off a road surface, putting the occupants in extreme danger." | The fire service issued a warning about the danger of attempting to negotiate flooded roads. A spokesman said: "Floodwater can rise rapidly and has immense power, easily pushing a vehicle into deeper water off a road surface, putting the occupants in extreme danger." |
| The incident happened on Thursday evening, when heavy rain caused flash floods in several parts of Devon, including Holsworthy, Tiverton and Parracombe. The coastal town of Clovelly was the worst affected, with a number of homes flooded. The fire service received more than 90 weather-related calls on Thursday, including more than 20 vehicles in water ones, 29 involving domestic flooding, and one horse rescue. | The incident happened on Thursday evening, when heavy rain caused flash floods in several parts of Devon, including Holsworthy, Tiverton and Parracombe. The coastal town of Clovelly was the worst affected, with a number of homes flooded. The fire service received more than 90 weather-related calls on Thursday, including more than 20 vehicles in water ones, 29 involving domestic flooding, and one horse rescue. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |