'I was absolutely convinced I was going to die'

A woman who was rescued by police after her car was washed away in flash floods in Worcestershire has said she expected to die.

Annie Nisbet was trapped in water up to her nose as she attempted to cross a swollen ford on Bow Brook near Pershore in April 2023.

Three West Mercia Police officers who formed a human chain to free her from the car have been given a police bravery award.

"I was absolutely, calmly convinced that I wasn't going to survive. The very instant I had that calm thought, I was completely surrounded by officers who came to save me," she said.

Ms Nisbet, from Malvern, had been on her way to visit her brother and was following her satnav when she came across what she thought was a "giant puddle" and stopped.

"A flash of water came up under the car, turned the car off, and then my car continued to fill up with water and started to slide down the river."

Sgt Shannon Murphy, Sgt Lee Baker and PC Thomas Simmonds (pictured left to right)

Sgt Shannon Murphy, Sgt Lee Baker and PC Thomas Simmonds, who came to her aid, smashed the windows and pulled her to safety just moments before the car sank.

She described their actions as "astonishing."

"They didn't think about their safety, they didn't know me from Adam, and their goal was to save me."

Ms Nisbett felt she had been given a new lease of life.

"What can you say to people who have given you back your life? 'Thank you' isn't enough."

The officers had continued to check up on her, and she felt "so grateful."

She had only recently returned to Malvern after 42 years in the US, and said she had not realised how Worcestershire is affected by flooding.

"Now, unfortunately, if it's raining and I see a puddle, even if it is a puddle, I don't go through it, I stop in the middle of the street, reverse and go another way."