A major search involving boats, helicopters and cranes was launched to find a driver feared drowned after his lorry plunged into the swollen River Severn.

Rescue crews feared the 22-year-old driver Sam Archer was trapped in the cab or had been washed away by the swirling current. But the search at Arley, near Kidderminster, was called off after three hours when the driver was found four miles away in Wolverley after answering a mobile phone call from his brother.

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It is believed the cost of the search to the fire brigade alone was more than £1,000. His father today said the lorry had rolled into the river after Sam accidently left the handbrake off after parking at Quayside. He had then gone for a walk to get over the shock. The alert was raised when the lorry was spotted almost completely submerged in the river.

Around 25 firefighters, police crews, two boats, a police helicopter and air ambulance took part in the search. It was not until around 4.20pm that police tracked down the driver to Wolverley. He was being interviewed again by police today but was not under arrest.

Part of the quayside and the footbridge were cordoned off for several hours while crews searched the banks – in case the man’s body had been swept away with the tide and washed downstream.

Family and friends of the driver were hugging each other fearing the worst as rescue crews circled the area. Michael Cooke, owner of The Harbour pub over the river, said: “My wife Sandra said to me that a lorry was in the river. “The lorry was almost completely in the water and I didn’t see anyone get out at all. We thought he must be in the water.”

Gary Jay watch commander at Kidderminster said: “We thought he was in the river for several hours until about 4.30pm.

“It was about this time the police informed us he had been found. They had been checking various addresses.” Two cranes took more than an hour to winch the lorry out.