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Worcester man captures car’s narrow escape from River Severn

Keith Hiley A black Audi car balances on the top step which leads down to the river. The rear wheels are off the ground and there is a sign next to the car warning drivers to avoid the drop.Keith Hiley

A car has been rescued after it nearly fell into the River Severn on Monday

A man in Worcestershire has captured the moment a car narrowly survived plunging into the River Severn.

The incident happened some time before 14:30 GMT on Monday at Worcester Rowing Club, next to Worcester Racecourse.

Rowing trainer Keith Hiley described the scene as something from the “Italian Job” with all four wheels of the stricken black Audi off the ground as it balanced on the steps leading down to the river.

The 67-year-old said: “I think there was a touch of embarrassment there, you know, ‘you’re in the spotlight, mate, because you’ve done something really, really ridiculous’.”

Mr Hiley was baffled as to how the driver had managed to end up in that situation as he only captured the aftermath.

He added: “It’s not the sort of thing you see every day.

“I really don’t know [how it happened]. The irony of it is there was no water in the car park.

“Yes, the river’s rising but I would have thought he would have made out there was an edge.

“I thought, ‘crikey, this is most peculiar’ and I don’t know what he was thinking.”

A man with short grey hair wearing a yellow high viz coat, yellow jumper and orange neck protector points at a triangular red sign warning drivers not to drive into the river.

Mr Hiley pointed out a warning sign put up after a similar incident a few years ago

Mr Hiley, who trains rowers at the club, said two different rescue attempts were made to lift the car to safety after an initial attempt left the vehicle trapped on the top step.

“By the time that happened it was in pitch darkness,” he said.

The rowing club witnessed a similar scene “three or fours years ago” during a flood, the 67-year-old recalled.

He said the previous incident, that saw the vehicle fall completely into the water, resulted in the club erecting a warning sign to prevent a similar situation happening.


BBC News

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