Satnav is to blame, says driver rescued from swollen river

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Anne Kennedy's Vauxhall Astra was swept away by the Loddon after she tried to drive across a ford in Charvil, Berkshire, which had become swollen with five feet of flood water.

The 62-year-old, from Henley, was on her way to Hook in Hampshire, but rather than take a route she knew she turned on her satnav to see if it could find a quicker one.

"It all happened so quickly," she said. "I got to the edge of the river and my front wheels went in the water. I thought golly this is not very good'.

"I couldn't reverse so put the car into first gear and tried to move it a little bit but then the car moved off on its own accord. I put my foot on the brakes but nothing happened — I then tried the handbrake but it didn't work."

The Astra was pulled into the middle of the river and began to fill with water.

"None of the electrics would work so I couldn't open any doors or windows," she said. "I began to think that there was a high probability that I was not going to get out."

Firefighters arrived and lassoed her car with a hose. One of them, Mark Crawford, jumped in, smashed the driver's window and dragged her free.

Ms Kennedy, who was treated for severe cold, said: "I will definitely be using a map in future — and carrying a hammer. I will not be crossing any fords again either."