Digger driver rescues his grandparents from flood

A farmer used a digger to rescue his grandparents from their flooded home.

Ryan Wesley, 31, drove them to safety in the digger's bucket after the couple, who are in their 80s, escaped through a bedroom window of their bungalow in Billingborough, Lincolnshire, on Monday.

Along with his father, Dean, 56, he also rescued a pregnant woman and elderly people before the water got too deep for the digger to operate.

A major incident was declared by authorities after flooding affected scores of properties around greater Lincolnshire.

Ryan drove the digger through badly flooded streets after hearing that his grandparents' home was surrounded by water.

By the time he and Dean got to the bungalow, the water had started to flow through the doors, he said.

"The water was rising that rapidly, it was obvious that we had to get them out," Dean added.

The couple managed to climb out of the bedroom window and into the digger's bucket.

By then, the water had risen to about 3in (7.5cm) and at the height of the flood it was about 1ft (30cm) deep, Ryan said.

His grandfather, Haydn, 87, said he was "really pleased" that Ryan and Dean were on hand to rescue them.

"At the time, I wasn't frightened because I'd got Ryan and Dean here and everything just went as clockwork," he added.

After driving his grandparents to safety, Ryan returned to rescue more people from their homes, but had to stop as "the water got too deep, even for the digger".

"That last trip, when you couldn't see the front wheels of the digger, the water was over it, it was a bit hair-raising," he added.

At least 88 properties have been flooded internally in the county, according to the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum.

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