Tragedy avoided at height of floods

This week, at the height of the floods, the quick thinking and prompt actions of Shropshire Council and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service avoided tragedy.

The council’s CCTV operators, who were monitoring the flooding situation in Shrewsbury, were astonished to spot a walker stumbling through flood water when the River Severn was almost at its peak.

With genuine fears that the pedestrian would be swept away in the swollen river, CCTV operators alerted Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service who proceeded to assist the person to safety. Thankfully, no one was injured.

The rescue, from CCTV cameras

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:-

“It was just after 3am, and the CCTV team couldn’t believe what they were seeing. They monitor our towns around the clock to help keep our streets safe and prevent crime. Their swift and decisive action is a true testament to their commitment to protecting our communities. It’s frightening to think what the consequences could have been if they had not spotted this individual. There is no doubt, all involved were instrumental in saving a life.”

This clearly demonstrated the need to take care. Flood water can be extremely dangerous, and Shropshire Council is urging people to never underestimate the risks flood water can pose.