A FAMILY had to be rescued after their car aquaplaned off a road and ended up in a waterlogged bog in Dorset.

A team from Wareham Fire Station were called to attend the incident at Bere Heath at 5:39 pm on Wednesday, December 28 after a car had ended up in the bog.  

The fire team worked together to rescue the family before they handed the proceedings to the police. 

A statement from Wareham Fire Station said: "One fire engine was sent to Bere Heath to a car that aquaplaned and landed in a waterlogged bog. 

"The family was rescued by firefighters and the scene was handed over to the police."

The incident followed a period of heavy rain in the region despite not having a weather warning like other areas of the UK. 

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service have issued information on how drivers can stay safe when driving through flooded conditions.

The service said: 

  • Don’t drive through standing water – as well as the water damaging your car, there may be hazards under the water you can’t see, or it may be a lot deeper than you realise. If you see a sign to say that the road is closed due to flooding, remember the sign is there for a reason. Don’t try to drive through or you might get stuck.
  • If you are driving a larger vehicle, do not go through flood water at speed as this creates a ‘bow wave’ that can then cause flooding to adjacent properties.
  • If you do break down in flooding, firefighters can only rescue you and anyone else in the vehicle. It is your responsibility to get the vehicle recovered.
  • When driving, if heavy rain is making visibility difficult, pull over if possible.
  • Remember that roads will be slippery during wet conditions.
  • Don’t try and walk through floodwater that is above knee level, as the force of the water could easily knock you off your feet. There is also a danger of open manholes, trenches or other hazards that you can’t see.