Car in river triggers large rescue effort

At least a dozen emergency service workers on the river bank in Sunderland, with a water rescue unit van in the foreground. There is temporary fencing around the area. Many of the emergency staff are wearing yellow high-viz jackets and helmets.

A car has entered a river prompting a large rescue response from emergency services.

Northumbria Police is asking people to avoid the area by the River Wear in Sunderland, near to Wearmouth Bridge, where a cordon is in place.

The force said it received a report of a car going into the river at about 13:30 BST and emergency services were at the scene.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said its teams, including rescue boats, were also "assisting blue light colleagues with the ongoing rescue efforts". It is not known how many people were in the vehicle.

Images show ambulances, police cars and a fire engine lining the river bank where a metal railing is damaged. Two rescue boats were also seen in the river.

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) confirmed it had sent several crews to the scene, including an air ambulance, and was working with the coastguard and police.

More than a dozen people, most wearing high-viz jackets are along the river bank in Sunderland, where a metal railing is missing and is covered in police tape There are emergency vehicles parked nearby and RNLI volunteers on two orange rescue boats in the river.
A woman in a blue HM Coastguard Search and Rescue suit walks away from a police car and towards the river bank, where other emergency vehicles are parked. The woman has blond hair in a ponytail and wears a blue helmet.

Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen on BBC Sounds.

Get in touch

Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Wear?

Original source Car in river triggers large rescue effort

Back to home