Sgt John Tostevin reads about the storm that saw him wade to the aid of a stranded family. (0548917)
A DESPERATE mother told police that she and her baby were in a car under water on the Rocquaine coast road – then her mobile phone went dead. That call – the woman’s second in minutes – sent Sgt John Tostevin and Inspector Geoff Chapman heading along the storm-lashed west coast. But 400 yards short of the couple’s vehicle the police car ground to a halt, damaged by debris in the road.
Sgt Tostevin told yesterday how seawater and stones rained down on him as he made his way to the black Ford Escort – and how he and Inspector Chapman had 20 minutes earlier warned its driver that the coast road was impassable. He found the car afloat with its lights on. There was no one in it.
Sgt Tostevin saw the mother and child standing on a pebble bank with the male driver. Sgt Tostevin set off on foot into the darkness – his flashlight soon failed, swamped by the sea pouring over the wall.
The couple and child who had been in the car were taken to hospital by an ambulance that had used a private access to get close. They were unhurt.
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3 Article Comments
Glad they made it out. over 500 people a year die trapped in their vehicles under water. The fix is 1/32 oz. of metal costing pocket change. Google “Escape Tip” to see more.
What kind of idiot risks their child like that in the first place? If she had been warned 20 minutes earlier that the road was impassable, what the hell were they doing there? Especially with a baby in the car. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour. I don’t give a damn if someone puts themselves at risk by being so stupid, that’s up to them, but to risk the life of a baby like that is unforgivable. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that in those conditions, you don’t take the risk, you find an alternative route or stay indoors until conditions improve.
David G said it all. stupid woman ?