Two people trapped in a car and another two stranded on a bench were rescued from rising flood waters on Sunday evening in Richmond and Putney.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Rainfall towards the end of the weekend meant river levels were higher and rose quicker than expected, leaving some residents and visitors stranded.

One London black cab was trapped by high tides along Putney Embankment on Sunday evening.


On the way back from a training exercise on the tidal section of the Thames, Surrey Search and Rescue workers spotted a number of submerged cars at around 5.30pm.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Two men trapped in a white BMW were removed from the car and moved to an area of dry land on one side of the river.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

High tide in Richmond

James Rossell, head of water rescue at Surrey Search and Rescue, said: “We were very lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

“We were on the tidal stretch of the River Thames for a training exercise as the exceptionally high tide brings very fast flow, which is great for teaching our new recruits.

“Typically this stretch of the river is covered by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution."

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Later that evening, 100 metres upstream from the first incident, two women had to be rescued from a bench which had been left ‘totally cut off’ by rising water levels.

Rescue worker Seamus Kearns said: ““The ladies were really shocked that it happened so quickly.

“And if we hadn't been there earlier the BMW may have floated away with the men still inside.

“This kind of thing happens a few times a year and it's known well in advance - we plan our training around it.”

Flood warnings are still in place from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weir.

Were you trapped by the floods? Tell us your stories and send in your pictures to ben.weich@london.newsquest.co.uk