Man rescued after spending 10 hours trapped in tractor by floodwater
Date of alert:
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
Wales - Dyfed-Powys Police
A TRACTOR driver was rescued after spending more than 10 hours stranded in floodwater in Powys.
David Jones, aged 64, from Acton Burnell, near Shrewsbury, became trapped in the water on his way to a quarry near Llandrinio to collect stone at around 7.30am on Tuesday, 22 February.
The River Severn had burst its banks in the area in the aftermath of Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin.
With Mr Jones trapped in a secluded lane, hoping and waiting for rescue, the alarm was only raised at 3.40pm when colleagues became concerned he hadn’t returned to the yard.
They reported him missing to Dyfed-Powys Police, which led to emergency services springing to action with partnership working between police, NPAS and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, finding him marooned in his tractor.
“I was going to the quarry to get some stone,” he said.
“I was going through the water and it started getting deeper and deeper, so I had to stop or the water could have damaged the engine.”
Mr Jones said he was unable to call for help because his mobile phone battery was flat so he was forced to sit it out with no idea when help would come.
