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Crews were called in the early hours of this morning to reports of an adult male trapped in fast flowing flood water who had attempted to cross a ford. On arrival crews liaised with the Police, West Midlands Ambulance and the HART team, The rescue teams were met with a torrent of water and a car stuck facing up stream underneath a footbridge. Station Manager Griffiths said “Water First Responders immediately set about putting downstream safety in place in the form of inflatable fire hose. Crews from Church Stretton attempted to secure the vehicle, gain access and reassure the driver. On arrival of the specialist swift water rescue technicians from Shrewsbury, a plan to bring the driver out of the vehicle safely was put into place and the driver was successfully rescued within minutes. The situation was extremely dynamic and dangerous and this was highlighted by the vehicle being washed away as soon as the driver was rescued. I would like to take this opportunity to commend everybody involved for their actions.” The capability for Water Rescue within Shropshire has been strengthened in recent years and this is yet another example of Water First Responders stabalising a scene prior to the arrival of specialist recourses. The service was mobilised again later this morning to further calls from drivers stuck in flood water and we would reiterate the following message from our Head of Prevention. “Let me be clear; driving through flood water is dangerous. It is difficult to tell exactly how deep the water is and obstacles will be hidden, there is no guarantee that there are not uncovered manholes. Just one foot of flowing water may be enough to move the average family car.” - Head of Prevention, Martin Timmis