Great Western Coffee Shop

Cornwall floods leave motorists trapped in vehicles

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Polperro High Street was left under nearly 4ft of water

People were trapped in vehicles and roads were closed as surface water flooding hit parts of Cornwall.

Overnight rainfall caused water to reach heights of 4ft (121cm) in some places on Sunday.

A flood alert was issued by the Environment Agency, who said the main areas of concern were the rivers Camel, Allen and Bodmin Town Leat.

The fire service advised road users to avoid attempting to drive through flood water.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service crews from Launceston, St Austell, Wadebridge and Looe were among those called out to several rescues across the county.

At least six people had to be brought to safety by water rescue teams after becoming trapped in their vehicles, they said.

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Water rescue teams from Bude and Bodmin were deployed

A spokesman from the Environment Agency said all flood defences in the area were holding and no rivers had broken their banks.

He said the flooding was thought to be largely "surface water" caused by blocked drains and heavy rainfall.

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The fire service said it could take as little as 60cm of water to trap a car

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

I've commented somewhere else that the pixelating does nothing to disguise a very obvious brand logo.

The centre photo is a D&SRFS image....I wonder why they thought it necessary to 'pixelate' out the branding on the van?!  Especially when it's clearly a certain hire company!

Presumably Devon & Somerset Rescue & Fire Service? (D&SRFS)?

Or is it actually D&SFRS?

Does this need adding to the abbreviations list? Google has no idea what D&SRFS is and neither do I.

If I remember rightly, if you're involved in a road traffic accident and require an ambulance, you or your insurance will get a bill for said ambulance.

I would hope that these "people" (restraining myself) would get a bill from the fire service to cover to cost of pulling them out rather than coming from my council tax. Anyone who thinks they can drive through three and a half feet of flood water deserve to have their bank account drained.

Ranty rant....

I have a vehicle which is more than capable of safely getting through a metre of water with a very minor modification, do I deserve to have my bank account drained?!

But you cannot see what is under the water.

1) Can you see the edge of the road - you could end up in a ditch
2) The current can be very strong deep water moving at only slow speeds can exert a huge force and wash a vehicle away.
3) Manhole covers may have blown and be invisible - will you be sure that a wheel will not get stuck in an open manhole cover?

I am well aware of the dangers of driving into deep water. The previous poster suggested that I should have my bank account drained simply because I think, and know, I could drive through standing water of a metre or so depth which I find a very odd concept indeed!

On two occasions in the past, I have driven my Mercedes Sprinter van through standing floodwater, because I knew that it would not be more than two feet deep, on those particular stretches of road.

Any deeper than that, and I wouldn't attempt it.  :-X

If you are then fine. Some people do not understand.  I wanted it to be clear.  I was not commenting on the possibility of a fine for trying.