Man rescued by fire crews after being cut off by flooded River Lune at Snatchems

Lifeboat crews rushed to the scene near the Golden Ball hotel in Lancaster Road after they were alerted to a car cut off by the fast-rising River Lune.

The man found himself trapped inside his car and stranded on a stretch of the submerged river-side road at around 12.10pm.

Lifeboat operations manager Steve Wilson tasked both the inshore lifeboat and the hovercraft to the scene, where they were joined by fire crews from Lancaster.

The fire service deployed two swift water rescue technicians who entered the water using a sled and brought the elderly man to safety. Firefighters also helped recover his stranded car from the flood water.

Chris Buchanan, the inshore lifeboat helm, said the "sterling efforts" of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service had helped saved the man's life.

He said: "Snatchems is renowned for being cut off by a fast rising river. We urge anyone who uses this route to avoid it if the river covers the road.

"It can take less than a foot of water to cause your vehicle to be swept away.

"This incident ended successfully on this occasion, thanks to the fire and rescue services."

A fire service spokesman said: "Firefighters from Lancaster assisted with a stranded vehicle stuck in flood water near Oxcliffe Hill, Lancaster Road, Heaton with Oxcliffe.

"The driver was rescued using the sled. Crews were also able to help move the vehicle back up out of the flood water."

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