Firefighters kayak Purley couple to safety in rising floodwater

Crew manager of Green Watch at Tilehurst Fire Station, Simon Abbott, said two pumps were called at mid-day, including one from Tilehurst and a second from Whitley Wood, to a cottage near Maple Durham lock, where an elderly couple were trapped in their house due to rising floodwater outside.
“They were in the house and dry. Floodwater surrounded the house, but hadn’t entered it,” said Mr Abbott, adding the man had health concerns, following recent heart bypass surgery.
Using a kayak provided by the Environment Agency (EA), several firefighters waded through the rising floodwater in gardens surrounding the cottage and pushed the couple to safety in the kayak.
The couple were checked over by ambulance staff at the scene, before going to stay with a neighbour.
Firefighters left the scene after about 40 minutes.
The flooding was due to rising waters in the River Thames, according to firefighters, following the extensive recent heavy rain.

Photograph: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service