Not again! Drivers stranded by the tide
3:00pm Monday 12th December 2011 in News
A MAJOR rescue operation was launched after a lorry, van and car got stranded.
Fire engines from Colchester, Wivenhoe, West Mersea and a water rescue team from Leigh were called to the drama at the Strood, Peldon.
Coastguards and marine police were also sent.
Initial reports suggested there were a number of motorists trapped. They waded to safety until the tide went down.
A lorry, van and car were caught in the water.
The incident on Friday, at 10.30am, resulted in half a mile of queueing traffic on Mersea Island, and in the opposite direction from Colchester.
Eyewitness Martin Wade said: “The water was up to the top of the van’s wheels. We heard the woman in the sports car was getting a worried because the waves were rocking her car.”
Mr Wade, deputy manager at West Mersea lifeboat station, said the high tide was predicted two days earlier.
He said: “The tide generally down the coast has been a metre above what it should be.
“It is caused by the strong winds in Scotland, which has caused this surge down the east coast to the North Sea.”
Fire crews decided the safest option was to wait for the tide to go down and then drivers could leave the scene.
Police remained for two hours to help the coastguard remove the vehicles.
The incident comes just a fortnight after fire crews had to rescue a motorist whose car also got stuck on the Strood in high tides.
The man had scrambled on to the roof of his car and was brought to safety by coastguards.
An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “This is a persistent problem for the emergency services, tying up a huge amount of valuable resources.”