A DRIVER had to be rescued by firefighters after his car was washed away in a river.
The motorist, whom emergency services found clinging to a tree, had attempted to cross a ‘very deep’ ford in the Dorset countryside.
The vehicle was washed 400 yards downriver from the ford at Deep Ford Lane, Chetnole, near Sherborne, on Tuesday morning.
Following the incident, firefighters warned motorists that it was dangerous to cross the ford.
A Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called just before 6am today with reports of a vehicle and the driver in a river at Deep Ford Lane, Chetnole .
“Crews from Weymouth and Yeovil were mobilized to the area and on arrival found the vehicle had been washed up 400 meters below the ford.
“The driver of the vehicle had managed to get out of the vehicle and was found clinging to a tree before being rescued by firefighters.
“Once rescued, the driver was taken into the care of the ambulance crew. The stop message arrived at 7.04am.
⚠️ A car was washed into the river as it attempted to cross the ford at Deep Ford Lane in #Chetnol, #Sherborne. The water level has become very deep and it is now dangerous to cross it. Please do not attempt to drive through this water. ⚠️@DWFireControl @DorsetCouncilUK @TravelDorset pic.twitter.com/r7Sz57PZIJ
– Dorset and Wiltshire FRS (@DWFireRescue) November 8, 2022
In a social media post, the firefighters said: “The water level has become very deep and it is now dangerous to cross. Please do not attempt to drive through this water.
As reported, flood warnings have been issued on the Dorset coast for Christchurch and Poole harbors at high tide, which is due either side of 9am on November 8.
The areas most at risk are in Wareham and the tidal reaches of the Lower Frome, River Piddle, River Avon and River Stour as well as Christchurch Harbor itself.
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