Headley Ford closed following recent fatality

Andrew Giovanni, aged 45, was driving en route to a local spa on April 24 with his fiance, Claire McDonnell, aged 38, when due to road diversions they were re-directed by their Tom Tom Satellite Navigation system to the Berkshire side of Headley Ford, in Thornford Road.
The couple attempted to cross the ford in their Vauxhall Zafira, after spotting a depth gauge registering two foot of water, but the car stalled, mid-river: “It stopped right in the deepest part, the water came over the bonnet and hit the windscreen, it was coming through the door,” said Mr Giovanni, who pointed out the depth gauge should be moved to the deepest part of the ford.
After changing into swimming costumes packed for their spa visit, they waded out to the banks of the River Enborne, where Mr Giovanni found a triangular red ‘Flood’ warning sign in the bushes. He placed the sign on a path, before telephoning emergency services. Two fire engines and ten firefighters then arrived to winch the car out of the ford.
Mr Giovanni of Parkside Road, West Reading - who also stopped two cars entering the ford from the Hampshire side of the border - said those driving through the ford risked their lives and thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars:
“There needs to be unmoveable signs that say ‘Open’ or ‘Closed’ - not something in the bushes,” he said, adding Satellite Navigation systems should also provide ‘Ford’ flashing warning signals.
Meanwhile the ford is to remain closed until at least next Monday following last Monday’s fatality. Mental health tribunal judge, Jonathan Gammon, aged 52, from Teddington, Middlesex, died after the Toyota Yaris in which he was a passenger - which according to police approached the ford from the Hampshire side - was swept away in flood waters. His wife who was driving managed to swim to safety. The couple’s dog also died in the incident.
Mark White, Station Commander for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed an (unnamed) firefighter from Kingsclere - one of around ten firefighters at the scene from Kingsclere and Newbury Fire Stations - made his way along a ladder placed from the river bank to the car, across the flood water, before breaking a window and pulling Mr Gammon out.
The firefighter then made his way back across the ladder, holding the Mr Gammon’s head above the water, while dragging him through the water to the bank and waiting paramedics who pronounced him dead at the scene.
The North East Hampshire coroner’s office confirmed an inquest into Mr Gammon’s death was opened on Thursday, May 3, with a review to be held in June