Andre Randles had driven into what he thought was shallow water in Todmorden
(Image: ITV)

Dad rescues baby son as car sinks in 'truly frightening' floodwater

by · Manchester Evening News

A young father leapt into action after being trapped in his sinking car with his infant son during a flood.

Andre Randles had mistakenly driven into what he believed to be shallow water, but then found himself stranded as his vehicle began to sink, YorkshireLive reports. Luckily he managed to rescue his 11-month-old son from the window of the Volkswagen hatchback just moments before it sank beneath the waters in Todmorden, West Yorks.

He said: "As soon as I saw the water rising, literally a minute later, I knew I had to get out and get my son out, so I wound down the window, climbed out and pulled him out."

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His terrified girlfriend, Paige Newsome, added: "By the time he'd got out of the car, got Luca out of the car, the water was up to his chest. It just shows how quickly things can escalate.

"If they hadn't escaped the car, they wouldn't have survived, which is the truly frightening part."

Andre Randles had mistakenly driven into what he believed to be shallow water, only to find himself stranded as his vehicle began to sink
(Image: ITV)

Several homes and businesses were flooded and roads made impassable due to surface water and melting snow as Storm Bert battered the UK on Saturday.

Labour MP for Calder Valley, Josh Fenton-Glynn, said: "We are at the frontline of climate shocks here in Calder Valley. Rest assured I will continue to raise the issues we face with flooding at the highest levels of government."