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Reckless youths caught on camera jet skiing through flooded villages
Last updated at 23:07pm on 05.08.07A group of youngsters who took a jet-ski onto flooded streets in the Gloucestershire deluge are being investigated by police after posting their film on the internet.
As residents of the market town struggled to save their homes and possessions from the rising waters, the youngsters were filmed using the high-powered jet-ski - sending waves cascading into vulnerable properties.
Police are examining the footage after a resident was assaulted when he confronted a group of jet skiers in the area.
Roger Sillick, who lives in the Lansdown area of Stroud, suffered injuries to his arm and his wrist after asking a group to stop jet-skiing in the floodwaters.
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Dangerous kids jet ski through the flooded streets of Stroud, injuring a volunteer
"We had all been working all afternoon trying to rescue possessions and people," said the 62-year-old, who has lived in the town for 30 years.
"Some people didn't want to leave their homes, possessions were sinking all around us, then these guys came along with their 4x4 and a jet-ski.
"I asked them politely to stop it, they had had their fun and it was causing problems with the waves.
"But they didn't like that, and started shoving me around, trying to throw me in the flood waters I think." Neighbours and witnesses intervened and when the police were called, the men fled.
Video of the youths' antics has now appeared on internet video website YouTube, where crowds are heard cheering on the jet-ski rider as he speeds across the waves.
More than 10,000 people have already logged on to view the footage.
Mr Sillick said: "I wonder if they understand the problems that they caused people and what everyone had been through that day." Gloucestershire Police spokesman Matt Ford said police were keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
"It looks like the offenders were attempting to throw the man into the floodwater after he approached them," he said.
He said officers were examining the YouTube footage.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact police on 0845 090 1234, or anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 1431 of July 20.
Reader views (3)
This is the real face of Britons at a time of disaster. If they weren't jet skiing through crisis-hit streets they would either be urinating in water containers or looting shipwrecks.
- Albert Swift, Aberdeen, Scotland
Kids always do stuff like this - praise be for Youtube that we can all have a look now!
- Daveb, London
Let's ban jet skis, they're a menace to the public!
- Pa Roddy, London
