New dad pulls 11-month-old child boy out of the window of sinking Volkswagen after automobile was engulfed by torrents of floodwaters – after Storm Bert killed three motorists
Storm Bert almost claimed the lives of more innocent Brits after a young father was trapped with his baby boy in a sinking car on Saturday afternoon.
Andre Randles was forced to pull his 11-month-old son from the window of his sinking Volkswagen hatchback after he had driven into a flooded road in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.
Moments later, his car dipped below the surface on Woodhouse Road, which borders the River Calder.
His terrified girlfriend later revealed her shock at what happened as she revealed she ‘dreaded to think’ what would have happened if her boyfriend ‘hadn’t thought fast enough’.
Marketing manager Paige Newsome praised her partner and called on Calderdale Council to do more to protect locals from the raging floodwater.
She said: ‘Calderdale Council need to sort this out ASAP! They have been getting notified about this part of Woodhouse Road multiple times by the owners of the house next to where our car is parked.
‘[It was] such a scary experience for Andre having to pull himself and our 11-month-old baby out of the car windows, whilst the water was flooding into the car.’
Paige said that her builder boyfriend had driven into the lake because it looked like low water – before being surprised by a sudden dip that left him stranded.
Andre Randles (pictured with his girlfriend Paige Newsome) was forced to pull his 11-month-old son from the window of his sinking Volkswagen hatchback after he had driven into a flooded road in Todmorden, West Yorkshire
Andre, a builder, had driven into the lake because it looked like low water – before being surprised by a sudden dip that left him stranded
Shocking photos showed his black Volkswagen being almost entirely swallowed up by the torrents
They only found shelter when her partner waded out of the water carrying their baby and the owners of the house neighbouring the flood gave them shelter them in.
She later added: ‘You never know what could have happened.
‘Just imagine if my partner didn’t think fast enough to get the windows open to climb out and then get my son out. I dread to think.’
Sharing another photo of the car with only a thin slither of the roof showing above the water, she said: ‘This is what it was like when they had just gotten out.
‘If this doesn’t show the council they need to sort the road out then nothing will.’
Earlier on Saturday, flood sirens released a terrifying wail as they echoed up the Calder Valley.
Andre’s car became submerged on Woodhouse Road, which at points borders the River Calder
Marketing manager Paige Newsome praised her partner and called on Calderdale Council to do more to protect locals form the raging floodwater
A flood warning had been in place for much of the day in Todmorden, with Centre Vale Park closed as the floodgates were opened to help manage river levels.
Calderdale Council said yesterday evening it was continuing to clear areas of surface water and had teams on standby to continue the work this morning.
It added: ‘Please drive carefully as there is still surface water and debris on many roads. Only make essential journeys. Stay safe.’
Labour MP for Calder Valley Josh Fenton-Glynn said the high water levels were a combination of rain and snow melt.
He said: ‘We are at the frontline of climate shocks here in Calder Valley. Rest assured I will continue to raise the issues we face with flooding at the highest levels of government.’
It came after a day of Storm Bert ravaging the nation with two fatal crashes and a third motorist killed when his car was crushed by a falling tree.
Tens of thousands of homes have also been without power, with 4,000 homes affected in the Midlands, south-west England and South Wales and 27,000 customers affected in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.
Eight yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office, covering the entiriety of Wales, the south west of England, the south coast and much of the north west of England and Scotland
A 34-year-old man in Shipley, West Yorkshire, was killed when his blue Renault Capture smashed into a wall in icy conditions.
Later that day, a man in his 60s died when a tree fell onto his black Mercedes E350. He was confirmed deceased at the scene.
Northamptonshire Police said a man died in a two-car collision on the A45 near Flore at around 8.20am on Saturday.
Another driver escaped tragedy after a tree crushed his vehicle, while five adults and five children had to be rescued from a house in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, near Llangollen in north Wales, following a landslide.
Meanwhile, police are reported to be searching for a dogwalker they fear could have been swept away by floodwaters in North Wales.
The man went missing yesterday around the river Conwy in the village of Trefriw at around 4pm. Fields around the river often flood in heavy rain, sparking fears he may have been swept up in the swollen waters.
His dog was found but the man remained missing despite hours of searching.
Eight yellow weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office, covering the entirety of Wales, the south west of England, the south coast and much of the north west of England and Scotland.
Winds measuring 70mph have battered coastal areas and melting snow and heavy rain are causing flooding.
Gusts of up to 105mph were recorded at Cairngorm Summit in Moray at 10am, Met Office data showed, while temperatures plummeted to -11C in the Highlands.
However, forecasters warned that the worst is still to come – with experts saying that the deadly storm is still developing.
A yellow warning for wind is in place until 9pm on Sunday, warning of dangerous coastal conditions and disruption across the entirety of the south coast of England and much of Wales.
This includes fears of power cuts, travel cancellations, damage to buildings and a danger to life both from large waves and flying debris.
A rain warning is also in place for the same region, predicting possibilities of potentially-fatal fast flowing and deep floodwater.
Yellow warnings for rain have also been issued for the entirety of Wales, all of Northern Ireland, much of the north of England and sections of Scotland.
