Man dies in submerged car at ford in Hampshire

The ford was flooded when the car got stuck

A 52-year-old man has died after the car he was a passenger in became submerged in fast flowing waters in Hampshire.

Police were called shortly after 09:00 BST to reports that a Toyota Yaris car was trapped at a ford on Thornford Road, Compton Wood, near Newbury.

Emergency services recovered the man from the vehicle but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man's wife, 54, who was driving, managed to swim free of the car.

She was taken to hospital in Basingstoke suffering from shock.

Police said the couple are from the Middlesex area.

'Fast-flowing water'

Road closures were put in place while the submerged car was recovered.

Fire crews from both Hampshire and Berkshire used ladders to reach the car from both banks of the river.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue said the vehicle was "completely submerged under 5ft of fast-flowing water" near the village of Headley.

The man was freed through the car window but paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.

A pet dog in the car also died in the incident.

Station manager Mark White said: 'This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the family.

"Rivers, fords and streams are going to be more swollen after the rainfall so I'd warn motorists to take extra care. If they are at all unsure about the depth, turn around and find another route."

Police said the conditions on the road, including the impact of recent rainfall on water levels at the ford, would form part of the investigation into the death.