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Dog rescued after car becomes stuck in ford

January 08, 2011

A dog was rescued by fire crews after its 83-year-old owner’s car was swept away while crossing a ford in Charvil.

The woman attempted to cross the ford at around 4.45pm last night but the current swept her car downstream.

She managed to escape and wade to safety but the Labrador was trapped.

Fire crews from Wokingham Road and Wokingham stations, as well as a river rescue crew from Caversham Road went to the scene and were able to rescue the dog.

Police were working to retrieve the car, which was up to its roof in water.

Firefighter David Grayson of Wokingham Road station said: “We advise extreme caution to drivers if they are crossing water.

“What they don’t realise is a few inches of water can sweep them away into much deeper water.”

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I hope one day that people are charged for wasting our time like this in the fire service. at the moment we are only funded from central gov for fires and road accidents. one day we may be needed at a house fire and instead we have 2 pumps 1 special pump and a nurse pump to go with the special needed at a job like this when those pumps are needed elsewhere. Also with the fire service cutting back 1st Sonning being shut whos station area it was and now Wargrave who was closest to this incident being told they are not going to be used then the fire service having to send these pumps in from elsewhere you can bet one day they wont be available and because no sonning no wargrave then a catasrophe is waitng to happen

deadley
11/01/2011 at 13:06

I have been driving through (or not) this ford on at all sorts of times for the last 35+ years without any problems Sometimes I have had to turn around as it was too deep but then it was always obvious the ford was un-passable from the depth signs!

There are signs approaching the ford warning that it may be un-passable during wet or inclement weather, and the ford itself has 2 depth markers visible from either side so no problem

The real problem is drivers attitude – it’s the ‘this doesn’t effect me’ or ‘I can get away with it’ or ‘I know better’ way of thinking that’s the cause How many times do we read of drivers parking where they shouldn’t and getting clamped, getting caught driving whilst on the phone, doing illegal manoeuvres etc Its just arrogance on those drivers part that cause all these problems and so they should be fined or made to pay for it!!

As for extra testing as a RoSPA advanced driver I get re-tested every 3 years and this is to a higher standard than normal drivers (Gold level for 23 years now plus Gold motorcycle for 9) so agree that there should be some form of re-testing on a regular basis and to be stopped from driving when shown to be incapable / incompetent – whatever the age!!

OLDMAN!, Reading
10/01/2011 at 13:44

@Lucy,

But there's the problem - different budgets. The rescuing people from drowning themselves and their pets after driving through fords where they have neither the skill or a suitable vehicle will come from the Fire Service rescue budget. But the building a new bridge to prevent them doing it in the first place will come from the council budget. :-)

Then again if there was a bridge, not only will it encourage more people to a quiet lane and ruin it, you can bet that someone will still end up in the river, either with or without their car so as tax payers we are no better off anyway.

A better solution may be to charge anyone who needs rescuing with driving without due care and attention and if found guilty the rescue services can then claim their costs back. It's then up to the car owner to prove that they were paying attention to the road and all around them. But it'll never happen.

Fed up, Lower Earley
10/01/2011 at 13:04

What with the cost of rescuing these silly people from the ford, they may as well have built a bridge by now...

Lucy Mortlock
10/01/2011 at 12:34

Erm, Moriarty, yes. That's why I would like all drivers to undergo periodic skills tests and if they fail they lose their licence until they have had additional training and undertaken another test. All pilots have to undergo a regular skills test at their own expense and if they fail their licence is immediately suspended. Motor vehicle drivers should be exactly the same.

whitespirit
10/01/2011 at 12:31

Can't agree that all 70+ drivers should have their licences taken away - that comment lacks compassion and understanding. How isolated would some people be without their cars. My mother lives in a remote Welsh village....

But it might have been wise to let the dog out - they can swim after all.

All of us are capable of stupidity - regardless of age. Young men are the worst offenders on the road - do you want to take their licences away too?

This must have been a horrible experience for her. Daft perhaps but it could have been your mother/grandmother....easy to throw stones..

Moriarty, Caversham
10/01/2011 at 12:16

I've driven through fords all over the country.

Is that why you call yourself 'Floater'?

Fancirca1963, Calcot, Reading
10/01/2011 at 12:11

Hopefully they'll take away her licence.

Pink Spirit
10/01/2011 at 11:31

She is on the road why exactly?

S C A R
10/01/2011 at 11:29

Agree with whitespirit. Also, old-timers are more careful drivers overall, and having one every 3-4 cars slows the brash young 'uns down far better than speed cameras...

C8H10N4O2
10/01/2011 at 11:07

Maybe, just maybe, someone should look at why this is continually happening. Is there enough warning that the road might not be passable? Is the signage adequate?

Is it even wise to leave the road open to traffic?

I've driven through fords all over the country. If I'm driving and see a sign for a ford it would suggest to me that under normal circumstances I ought to be able to drive through it. The Land's End ford doesn't look particularly daunting. Obviously having local knowledge I'd only go through the ford in the summer or after a long dry spell but I can well imagine how, unless faced with a raging torrent, someone unfamiliar might get caught out.

Floater, Reading
10/01/2011 at 10:53

I've never driven through the ford, and always avoid that route. Does the sign posting need improvement? (I assume from obvious to blindingly obvious...)

Fred Bloggs
10/01/2011 at 10:51

Here we go again ! The trouble is that route is actually quite useful and people will always take a chance rather than go the much longer route. Sat Navs also take you down there so maybe its time they thought about putting a bridge over it.