Brave cyclists rescue pensioners through roof as car fills with water at flooding hot spot

Jonathan Swift and Steve Trice worked with passers-by to break open the sun roof and free the trapped passengers after their Rover 75 got stuck in Trescott Ford.

The cyclists came across the Rover vehicle stranded on Furnace Grange Road after turning off the Bridgnorth Road at around 11.30am.

Inside the pair from Wombourne saw two women in the front seats and a man in the back seat - all aged between 60 and 70.

The green car had stalled as it entered the flooding danger spot and it soon started filling up with water before being pushed against the bridge over the ford.

Stuck against the bridge's concrete wall, the Rover blocked the ford's water flow, meaning both the road and the car began to flood.

Luckily for the pensioners, as the water level in and out of the car continued to rise, Mr Swift and Mr Trice came to the rescue.

Mr Trice, aged 53, said: "As we rounded the corner we laughed when we saw the car stuck because it is so frequent.

"But then we suddenly realised there was someone in it and we pulled up and phoned emergency services.

"We saw that the water was coming up very quickly and were joined by four other passers-by who came to help."

Mr Trice managed to get in to the back seat through a window, sitting next to the man.

He said: "Because the car was stopped water flowing across the ford, it was rising around the car and was coming inside, up to their knees.

"We got him to shuffle along and pulled him out of the side window."

One of the passers-by then used a pole to open the car's sun roof and one of the women was pulled up.

The other woman got out through a front side window, with the help of the cyclists and passers-by.

He said: "It was a very calm situation solved thanks to team work between a few people."

He added: "It certainly gives us both a story to tell from our ride."

The incident was 35 miles into the former Ounsdale School pupils' 40-mile cycle route.

Tettenhall Fire Station Watch Commander Dean Marandola praised the pair for helping the three car passengers.

He said: "We would like to commend the bravery of the cyclists for putting themselves in danger to help others."

The fire crew received a call to the scene at 11.24am. As they arrived the last person was being pulled out of the car.

They called ambulance crews, who checked over the three people, who are thought to be in good health despite the incident.

Mr Marandola said: "The vehicle went into the ford and stalled. It was then swept toward the one side of the ford, against the concrete wall - stopping the water flowing through.

"This meant the water levels rose. It is lucky the cyclist came when they did to help the three people."

He added: "This is quite a frequent occurrence for ourselves to be called out to the ford.

"We would like to remind people that a vehicle should only be driven through water at a certain depth.

"There is a measuring device to help guide motorists."

In March a van got stuck in water almost up to is windows at the ford, while a car was very nearly fully submerged in flooding last August.

Signs next to the ford warn drivers to check the water depth before crossing, but the Rover 75 joins a long list of vehicles that have tried and failed to make it through the water.