COASTGUARD RESCUE TEAMS RESCUE OVER 70 PEOPLE FROM FLOODED CARAVAN PARK

Coastguard Rescue Officers from Herne Bay, Medway and Sheppey have rescued 76 people last night from a caravan park flooded by the River Medway.

At just after 2pm yesterday Thames Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) received a call from a member of the public reporting that people were cut off by the rising waters of the River Medway at the Little Venice Caravan and Marina Park at Yalding, Kent.

Through rising flood waters and the onset of darkness the Coastguard Rescue Officers checked every caravan and helped the majority of residents to leave using four small boats, and three four-by-four vehicles. Once on dry land the Salvation Army took the rescued people to a local leisure centre.

By 8pm yesterday the flood water was chest deep and so the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre called in the Coastguard helicopter based at Lee on Solent to help evacuate the last people who wanted to leave the site. Kent Fire and Rescue Service also joined the Coastguard Rescue teams on scene.

The helicopter stood-by at a nearby garden centre whilst the Coastguard Rescue Teams worked to rescue the last 21 people from the rising flood water and now listing caravans. They were helped by one team from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

 Thames Watch Manager Aimee Rampton said:

“We were operating under Force Majeure to help the residents of Little Venice as our normal area of operation is along our coasts and shorelines. The people at the caravan site needed help and the flood waters were rising rapidly so our specially trained water rescue teams swung into action.
“Our thoughts are with the people that we rescued from their homes, especially at this time of year.“

-Ends-

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