Elderly man dies after car enters water in Lancashire amid Storm Bert chaos

A man in his 80s has tragically died after his car plunged into a body of water during Storm Bert in Lancashire.

The elderly man was pulled from the water on Cockhill Lane, Foulridge, near Colne, by emergency services shortly after 4.15pm on Saturday (November 23).

He was rushed to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead. A woman, also in her 80s, was taken to hospital but her condition is not believed to be life-threatening, reports Lancs Live.

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Two fire engines were dispatched to the scene by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services. Specialist swift water rescue teams from Nelson and Penwortham, along with a boat from Preston, were involved in the operation.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed onto the coroner, confirmed a force spokesperson. The Met Office has urged the public to stay updated with weather warnings as they could change.

According to Met Office Chief Meteorologist Andy Page, Storm Bert "will continue to cause disruption". He said: "Impacts from Storm Bert will continue to cause disruption as we go through today, and multiple warnings are in place for wind and rain.

"While the risk of any snowfall has now diminished, rainfall will affect much of the UK today, in particular some southwestern parts of England and South Wales, but the heaviest rain will ease from these areas through the day."

Weather warnings across the UK are set to expire later this evening. The longest lasting is the rain alert for southwest England, which remains in effect until 11.45pm tonight. Weather expert Page has cautioned the public to remain vigilant due to persistent strong southerly winds and potential abrupt changes.

He said: "The strong southerly winds continue today and warnings are in place for central, southern and eastern England, Northern Ireland and western Scotland where gusts could peak at 60 mph and could even reach more than 70 mph along some exposed coasts. Warnings could still be amended, possibly at short notice, so it is important people keep up to date with the very latest forecast."

Tragedy struck during Storm Bert on Saturday, claiming three lives on the roads. A man in his 60s was fatally injured when a tree collapsed onto a car on the A34 near Winchester.

In Shipley, West Yorkshire, a 34-year-old man died in a single-vehicle accident, and a man in his 40s lost his life in a collision on the A45 near Flore, Northamptonshire.

North Wales Police have reported the discovery of a body in the vicinity of Gower Road, Trefiw, in north-west Wales, close to the Afon Conwy river. This area is where 75-year-old Brian Perry went missing last Saturday while walking his dog.

The body has yet to be formally identified, but Mr Perry's family has been notified of the find.