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Woman rescued after car crashes into ditch

Simon Sparkand
Holly Phillips,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Dennis Norris A white car on its side in a ditch. It is dark.Dennis Norris
The car ended up in the Beverley and Barmston Drain, near Bethells Bridge, in East Yorkshire

A man has been described as a "saint" after he jumped into water to rescue a woman from a car that crashed into in a ditch in East Yorkshire.

The vehicle, ended up partially submerged in the Beverley and Barmston Drain, near Bethells Bridge, on Saturday evening.

Charles Wrieden, who was on his way to a nearby bonfire, spotted the vehicle and jumped into the water to help.

The driver, who wished to be known only as Liz, said she had "never been so relieved to see anyone" as when Charles came to her rescue.

Charles said the driver's side was submerged and he managed to get Liz out through the rear passenger door.

He carried her to the bank, where two of his friends were waiting to pull them to safety, before taking her to his car to warm up.

Charles said the "scary bit" was when the vehicle began leaning towards him.

He said: "As we were coming on top of the door, that's when the car was really pushing at me so, in my head, it's like: 'Hurry up, hurry up' but, in the same sense, how can someone hurry up in that situation?"

Charles said he lost his trainers and his glasses during the rescue.

Charles Wrieden standing next to Beverley and Barmston Drain, smiling at the camera. He has short brown hair and brown facial hair. He is wearing glasses and a grey, striped quarter-zip. Two cars, a black car and a red car, are parked on the bank behind him. The sky is overcast.
Charles Wrieden, 44, jumped in the water to save Liz

Dennis Norris, 57, who arrived after being alerted while at the nearby bonfire, called a local farmer who pulled the car from the water.

Speaking about Charles, he said: "He's a hero, he's definitely a hero, without a doubt.

"Not a lot of people would jump in that. It was dark, pitch black. The guy's a hero for doing what he did."

He added: "He saved a woman's life."

Dennis Norris smiling at the camera. He is wearing a camouflage hoodie and a green, blue and red bobble hat. He has grey facial hair. Behind him is the Beverley and Barmston Drain.
Dennis Norris, 57, says Charles is a 'hero'

Liz, who did not want to be interviewed, told the BBC she had only just entered the water when Charles arrived and she was "starting to panic".

She described Charles as "a saint" and said he took her to a nearby wedding venue, where she was due to meet a friend.

"We turned up there like two drowned rats," she said.

Liz said the rest of her evening was spent drinking hot drinks and borrowing coats to keep warm.

She said she felt "lucky" the accident happened where it did and she was surrounded by "kind strangers".

"I'm so grateful to everyone," she added.

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