Ambulance chiefs hit out at drivers as floods cause chaos

Buy photos » The site where new houses will be built flooded after torrential rain. (s)

THE boss of West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has criticised drivers for risking their lives and those of the emergency services as flash floods hit the region.

Heavy rain battered much of the country from Friday with flood warnings affecting most regions.

Warnings were still in place on Monday for River Blythe at Widney Manor, Brueton Park and Eastcote including Widney Manor Road, Oldway Drive, Riverside Drive and Henwood Lane while an alert remains in place on low-lying land and roads between Cheswick Green and Blyth End around River Blythe.

River Cole at Solihull Lodge including Nethercote Gardens, Wise Meadows, Corley Close and Peterbrook Road has been given the all clear.

WMAS general manager Nathan Hudson said he was concerned by the number of people who tried to drive through flooded roads, fords, and small rivers and got stuck.

"People who attempt to pass through flooded roads are not only putting their own lives at risk, but also the lives of the emergency services staff who have to rescue them," Mr Hudson said.

"A little bit of common sense from the public will ensure that no one’s life is put in any unnecessary danger.

"No-one can have missed the heavy rain and strong winds that battered the region overnight.

"It is quite simple; driving through flood water is inherently dangerous. When you start off you simply have no idea how deep it will be, whether there will be hidden obstacles such as raised man hole covers that could damage your car.

"Perhaps surprisingly, we have had to deal with a remarkable number of stuck 4x4s. Just because your vehicle has four wheel drive, does not make it amphibious. They too can become stuck in deep flood water.

"We would urge people to not try and get across flood water and instead take a short detour, rather than become trapped in their cars and have to be rescued."

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