by Lyn Taylor
A 90 year old woman had to be rescued from raging floodwater at a ford across Highley’s Borle Brook in a terrifying incident on Saturday when her son’s 4×4 became swamped.
Dorothy Scott was trapped in a Mitsubishi Warrior driven by her son James Scott when the vehicle became submerged in four feet of water – twice the depth indicated on the ford’s depth gauge. A second passenger, Mr Scott’s partner Leia Daniel, was also trapped in the car, after a trip to a local pub for lunch went horribly wrong.
The three were helped to safety by 71-year-old Highley resident Derek Smith, who towed the stricken truck and its occupants to dry land. The drama started when Mr Scott, an experienced driver of 4×4 vehicles, set off on Saturday to take his mother to a local pub, the Cape of Good Hope, for lunch.
When he approached the ford, he could see that the water was rising quickly and the depth gauge indicated it was two feet deep.
He decided to use the ford because he knew his Mitsubishi could cope with two feet of water – but two thirds of the way across, the pick-up hit much deeper water and was lifted up by strong currents. The water lifted Mr Scott’s foot off the accelerator and the Mitsubishi stalled.
“I tried to start the truck, but the starter motor burnt out, and the water at that point was waist high – much higher than the gauge had indicated,” said Mr Scott. “Water was seeping through the door. I told mum to put her feet up on the seat to keep them dry and we phoned the emergency services.
“Luckily Derek Smith arrived on the scene. He had a rope in his Land Rover and he drove round to the Billingsley side of the ford to assist us.
“I climbed out on to the bonnet, but I had to go into the water to fasten the rope to the vehicle – I didn’t want Mr Smith going in because he’s 71, and I reckoned that the only one fit enough to get into a raging torrent was me. The water slammed me against the side of the truck and I’ve got a bruised hip – but it could have been worse.”
Mr Smith towed the truck to dry land and Highley First Responders and paramedics arrived on the scene and checked Mrs Scott over.
“It was a scary situation on the ford but my main worry was my 90 year old mother,” said Mr Scott. “I knew if it had been just me and Leia we could have got to safety somehow, but with mum it was a different situation.
“I am very angry that the depth indicator on the ford was not accurate – there’s no way I would have put my mum through all of this had I know how deep the water really was. Something should be done before there’s a fatal accident”.
Mr Scott said he wanted to express his heartfelt thanks to Mr Smith and planned to visit him personally to express his gratitude. Mr Scott’s sister, Liz Harding, also praised Mr Smith for his public spirited actions in rescuing her mum and then driving her home.
“We are extremely grateful for his help and kindness,” she said.