VIDEO: Stricken HGV rescued from flooded A1101 Welney Wash Road

On the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon and the stars and it was on the 4^th day that rescue teams managed finally to haul a stricken HGV from the Welney Wash Road bordering Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

Cambridgeshire’s leading rescue specialists Manchetts had spent several days debating the best – and safest – method of exiting the lorry from the road and today, with reinforcements to hand by way of extra heavy duty lifting vehicles, were able to complete the mission.

The team tasked with removing the HGV used the Cambridgeshire side of the side (coming in from Littleport) to then wade through the water with the heavy lifting vehicles accompany them.

It was exhilarating to watch as the removal – dubbed ‘operation melon’ after the cargo on board – got under way.

First job was to balance and secure the cab to ensure it didn’t topple over whilst at the same time protecting and harnessing the trailer.

Once the team – we counted up to 7 – were in position they were able to hook the cab and trailer to their recovery vehicle and slowly tow it to safety.

The team, though inwardly celebrating a job done well, emerged looking happy, but soaking wet and were clearly very cold.

The rescued lorry, owned by a firm from Billericay in Essex, is now on its way ‘home’ and with temperatures remaining at freezing or just above freezing, it is possible the cargo will be safe.

Weather conditions prevented the rescue going ahead yesterday despite a hardy effort a day earlier to try and retrieve it from the murky waters.

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Manchetts prides itself on its “expansive fleet of vehicles which provide everything from roadside breakdowns to major multi-vehicle incidents” but remained realistic to the risks and water levels associated with such a delicate operation.

Today the go ahead was given and the recovery, once it go under way, took about two hours.

For drivers using local roads closure of the Welney Wash road continues as another road was closed in the area from yesterday to carry out repair works.

Welney Flood Watch reported today that river levels at Welney have fallen only slightly overnight to 3.75, there is 1.40m/55inches of flood water on the Welney wash road.

“The road is still impassable to vehicles,” it advises.

“Upstream levels are still slowly falling, and the good news is no rain forecast this week.”

As for the driver – forced to abandon the HGV – he was able to walk to safety after realising he was stuck.

A photograph of the driver is circulating of him leaving his cab – with his dog – and walking to safety towards the village of Welney.

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