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Snodland pensioner rescued from flooded car by passing couple outside St Katherine's School

By Brad Harper

An 82-year-old man trapped waist-deep in water was rescued by passers-by this week.

Maria Court, 47, said her father, who lives in Tom Joyce Close, Snodland, was travelling along St Katherine’s Lane when his red Ford Focus got stuck on Monday evening.

A dramatic rescue followed, on the same night as pensioner had to be rescued by his wife and son after getting trapped in a flooding car at the bottom of a hill in Meopham on the same night.

A bus hit the pensioner's car hours after he had been rescued from it in St Katherine's Lane, Snodland
A bus hit the pensioner's car hours after he had been rescued from it in St Katherine's Lane, Snodland

Ms Court said: “He came down the road and saw there was water but thought it wasn’t that bad.

“He thought if he moved to the side of the road where the kerb is, he might get away with it.

“It was a lot deeper than he thought and it submerged him almost immediately. All of the water came through so he was waist deep in water.”

Ms Court said her father was unable to escape and started to panic. None of his family knew he was in trouble.

Before the car was completely submerged, a couple in a van rescued him from the vehicle and took him home.

His daughter said: “He was cold throughout the whole evening; he was dripping. He had to wear some layers to bed because he is not in the best of health.”

“He says that he feels okay this morning but we will have to keep an eye on him.”

Her father, still recovering from his ordeal, received more bad news on Tuesday morning.

Ms Court said: “A bus came down St Katherine's Lane and smashed into the car.”

A police spokesman confirmed officers were called to the scene at 8.15am on Tuesday, June 11 to reports two cars were blocking St Katherine’s Lane.

They said: “The vehicles are believed to have been left in the road due to flooding the evening before.

“It is also reported the vehicles may also have sustained damage as a result of a collision with a bus.

“They have both now been recovered from the scene.”

Police are not investigating the incident and it is thought the crash is being dealt with by the relevant insurance companies.

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