News

Another rescue at Lands End ford

January 10, 2011

Three fire crews were called out this morning to rescue a 30-year-old man in a box van trapped in the Lands End ford near Charvil.

The emergency call went out at 11.18am today to the second ford rescue in three days.

The water rescue unit was sent from Caversham Road Fire Station and crews from Wokingham and Wokingham Road fire stations also went to the scene of the rescue.

The water level reached the bottom of the doors of the 3.5 ton Ford box van.

The fire fighters rescued the driver using a water rescue sled then set about removing the van from the Old River because it was an “environmental hazard” according to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman Nicole Targett.

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Most recent user comments 12 of 12

I think people that continue to drive through this area should have to pay a fine. If it was down to me I would leave them there to fend for themselves it would teach them a lesson!

wonderwoman, Reading
11/01/2011 at 13:20

Jeffery - The farmer who owned the place on the other side of the ford used to tow people out for £50 back in the day.

I think they should just leave people in there when they get stuck (providing they get out OK). They'll soon remember not to do it once they've seen their car float away down the river.

Hugh J, Reading
11/01/2011 at 09:47

There are depth markers and sighs telling people of a ford and also the depth of it, Its ridiculous that drivers still decide to drive down in increasingly deeper water and wonder why they get swept away! think its about time the drivers are held acountable for being stupid and wasting emergency services time! that include the 4x4's that also come unstuck..

The Wise Old Man
10/01/2011 at 18:34

Isn't there a post in the water there showing how deep it is...?

Monkey, Earley
10/01/2011 at 16:48

Tractor and a tow rope!! park it in the pub car park!! Charge people if they get stuck to be fished out!

Jeffery, reading
10/01/2011 at 16:15

@PCWatch,

How do you define low? How about the depth of something like a ford? As the river varies in depth according to the weather in the preceding days, any causeway bridge will always be under varying levels of water. Plus a bridge could block branches and other things that are washed downriver naturally, thus requiring even more maintenance.

Still think a charge of driving without due care is the best option. People will soon learn. :-) Fed up, Lower Earley

YES WE KNOW THAT

PCWatch, Reading
10/01/2011 at 15:25

Perhaps they should just let the next idiot - which will be tomorrow at this rate - drown.

Big P, Reading
10/01/2011 at 14:36

but why 3 to rescue him.. what if a real accident happened and they couldnt be there as there fishing a van out instead??

Grumpy Shinfield Bird, reading
10/01/2011 at 14:30

Fed up, Lower Earley
10/01/2011 at 13:48

People must know this ford is a problem and runs deep at this time of year - and in the summer when it has belched down. Can I suggest that people who are this stupid get charged for their rescue and that could go towards a low causeway type bridge perhaps?