Driver rescued from Royal Mail van which was swept downriver at Northumberland ford crossing

Emergency services were called to rescue a man from the roof of a Royal Mail van which was swept away while attempting to cross a swollen ford.
Emergency service workers rescue man on top of Royal Mail van swept away from ford crossingEmergency service workers rescue man on top of Royal Mail van swept away from ford crossing
Emergency service workers rescue man on top of Royal Mail van swept away from ford crossing

Shocking pictures show the van in deeper water downriver from the ford crossing near Coldgate Mill in Wooler the morning after the rescue.

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and mountain rescue teams along with Northumbria Police and North East Ambulance Service were called to the incident at 5.50pm on Monday, January 11.

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The driver was sitting on top of the van roof when emergency services arrived.

The van remained in the water the following morningThe van remained in the water the following morning
The van remained in the water the following morning

Teams were able to rescue the driver who was checked over by paramedics at the scene.

A North East Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 17.57am to reports of a male stuck in the water on top of a vehicle at Coldgate Mill in Wooler on Monday evening.

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"We sent four hazardous area response teams, an officer and two other resources who teamed up with Police, Fire Service and Mountain Rescue to rescue the man.

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"Once rescued, he was treated at the scene and did not require transportation to hospital.”

Fire crews from Wooler, Coldstream, Rothbury and Berwick as well as swift water crews from Pegswood and Berwick attended the incident.

It is the second incident on the same crossing after a number of people had to be rescued from their car in 2020.

Motorists are reminded of the dangers of crossing fords during current conditions as water may be deeper than it appears.

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