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A passing driver recently pulled an elderly man to safety after he discovered he was trapped in his sinking vehicle on a country road between Outwell and Downham Market.
The triathlete from Brighton was travelling home on Saturday after he had came to the Fens to collect a bike that he had purchased from ebay when he spotted the Skoda Citigo sinking on the A1122.
The driver, Ray Matthews, stopped his car when he saw a commotion at the side of the road, he explained in a recent report that it was a very surreal experience, one minute he was driving along a beautiful country road after collecting his racing bike and the next he had jumped into the water and was trying to open a door to get an elderly man out of his vehicle.
He explained that the man had said that he could not use his left arm as it had no feeling and therefore could not undo his own seat belt, he came to the conclusion that he must have had a stroke in the past. He explained that water was rushing into the vehicle and it was sinking rather quickly, the mans window was open half way and Matthews managed to yank the door open, he then had to fully emerge his head in the water to undo the mans seat belt.
Another passing motorist jumped into the water and assisted Matthews in dragging the man to the side of the riverbank where his wife was standing in shock. Matthews said that he assumed that the man had parked up and was going to start the car again and had accidentally put his foot onto the accelerator instead of the brake, therefore ending up in the water.
Matthews, who is 48 then carried on to a nearby pub where he changed into a set of runner clothes that are always kept in his cars boot due to him being a keen athlete. He explained that it was a very surreal experience walking into the pub soaking wet.
Norfolk Police and the Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the man fortunately didn't have to be taken to hospital. A spokesperson from Norfolk Police said that it is still a mystery as to how the car had ended up in the ditch filled with water. He went on to explain that the ditch was rather deep and the vehicle was partially submerged in it, there were luckily no injuries and the man and his wife were taken home whilst the vehicle was pulled out of the water.