Pc to the rescue in floods drama (From Dudley News)

Pc to the rescue in floods drama

4:20pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

WHILE driving around Dudley on regular beat patrol, the last thing Pc Adam Hogarth expected to find was 45 stranded Brownies and Rainbow Guides.

The officer from the Wrens Nest and Milking Bank neighbourhood policing team was travelling along Birmingham New Road at 5pm on Sunday when he came across their coach, which was stuck in floodwater.

The 6th Penkridge Brownies and 3rd Penkridge Rainbows were on their way home from Dudley Zoo after taking part in the Animal Explorers Day when their coach broke down in 2ft of sewage water following heavy downpours.

Storm drains in nearby Sedgley Road West had exploded, leaving the coach’s engine flooded with rising rain water and the youngsters trapped in the sweltering coach.

With no electric power on the coach, the girls were stuck on board for at least an hour, unable to open the door.

Pc Hogarth, 28, said: “I saw the coach stuck in the water and the children were all tired, hot and scared of what was happening.

“I contacted the fire service to come and help get them off and they came with their specialist equipment to get the door open.

“I then flagged down a passing Diamond Bus, which was on its way to Wolverhampton and asked if he could take the youngsters to Wolverhampton bus station to meet the arrival coach, which the company agreed to do for free.”

With help from colleagues Pc’s Neal Addison and Steven Hill, who managed the traffic, Pc Hogarth and the fire crew from Wednesbury built a bridge out of wood and ladders, which allowed the Brownies, Rainbows and staff to transfer onto the other bus without even getting their feet wet.

Pc Hogarth, who has been in the police force for three-and-a-half years, said: “It certainly wasn’t something you come across every day – but it’s all part of the job.

“And I got 45 thank yous as they all crossed the bridge, which was nice.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)