A tractor is holding the 4×4 by a strap so the vehicle does not move any further down the river (Picture: SWNS)
A tractor is holding the 4×4 by a strap so the vehicle does not move any further down the river (Picture: SWNS)

Three men from an off-road club drowned while trying to cross a river in the North York Moors.

The trio were travelling to a nearby spot popular with other drivers when their 4×4 crashed into River Esk and was swept away.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident near Glaisdale village, around 10 miles west of Whitby in North Yorkshire, at around 11.48am.

Local resident Chris Ford, who tried to rescue them with his tractor, told the BBC they were part of an off-roading group when they crossed a ford on Rake Lane. 

A tractor was used to remove the car (Picture: Lee McLean / SWNS)
A tractor was used to remove the car (Picture: Lee McLean / SWNS)
The car was pulled from the River Esk near Glaisdale this afternoon (Picture: Lee McLean / SWNS)
The car was pulled from the River Esk near Glaisdale this afternoon (Picture: Lee McLean / SWNS)

He said the river, swollen by the persistent rain amid Storm Gerrit, carried their car around 400 yards downstream.

‘I went down with my tractor. There was a couple of vehicles – one parked up. You couldn’t see the (other) vehicle. It was 3ft beneath the water,’ the firewood salesman added.

‘I helped get it out on to the riverbank with three other tractors.’

A fourth man, who was rescued after swimming in to try and help the others, was treated at the scene.

The car was recovered by police this morning (Picture: PA)
Thursday 28th December 2023 -? Glaisdale, North Yorkshire, UK - Emergency services including 2 Yorkshire air ambulance helicopters?and also the Coast Guard helicopter as well as Mountain Rescue, Police, Fire, and Ambulance service all rushed to a Ford / River crossing close to the village of Glaisdale not far from Whitby this afternoon after reports of a vehicle being washed away after trying to cross the swollen stream/river due to recent heavy rainfall.**STANDARD USAGE FEES APPLY****STANDARD USAGES FEES APPLY**
Emergency services near the scene of the incident at the village of Glaisdale (Picture: Jordan Crosby)

The 4X4 was finally pulled out of the river by the fire service at around 3pm, but the three could not be saved.

North Yorkshire Police said next of kin are currently being informed about the incident.

The force said localised conditions in the area had made driving hazardous.

In the hours after the crash, two other cars became stuck in flood water around the River Esk, but all the occupants of those vehicles were brought to safety.

Drivers around the country have had to contend with dangerous conditions created by Storm Gerrit, which has brought heavy rain, severe winds and large amounts of snow to some areas.

There are currently almost 30 flood warnings in place across England, with more than 120 less severe flood alerts issued.

In Scotland, where a major incident was declared due to snowfall on the A9, there are nine flood warnings and 13 flood alerts, while Wales has 17 alerts and a single warning for the Rivery Towy in the south.

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