Driver uses ‘Bigfoot’ truck to rescue Storm Henk flood motorists as locals say ‘gives hope’
As flood water rises across Worcestershire, a Kidderminster truck driver launched his own mission to rescue motorists from danger. Locals have heaped praise on plucky 23-year-old Luis Freeman for his selfless and "rare" acts of kindness that helped save four people.
Motor enthusiast Luis, who works for Droitwich's Elite Recovery but has his own truck he uses for car racing, put out a Facebook message late last night, Tuesday January 2, offering to help anyone stuck in floods around Bewdley and beyond for free. Roads are becoming increasingly flooded in Worcestershire[1] where water levels of the mighty River Severn are rising after heavy rainfall from Storm Henk.
Six flood warnings and nine flood alerts are in place across Worcestershire, Birmingham and the Black Country for rivers, streams and brooks. You can follow the latest on Storm Henk flood warnings live here[2].
At just before midnight last night Luis shared a message saying: "All roads are flooding all around. If anyone gets stuck in the water or anything feel free to shoot me a message, I’ll happily help out and pull a car out with my truck and winch.
"I’m out and about now and will be for most of the night helping. Free of charge obviously."
Photos from Luis, who is originally from Cannock[4] and now lives in Menithwood, showed him and his recovery truck he calls 'Bigfoot' with firefighters. Hereford and Worcester and West Midlands Fire Service[5] crews became increasingly stretched by worsening conditions in the region through the night when Luis offered them extra help for free.
Firefighters in Tenbury Road near Lindridge after several cars got trapped in floods that Luis Freeman offered his support
He ended up supporting emergency crews until 3am today, Wednesday January 3, as they reached four people trapped in three cars on the A443 near Lindridge.
Luis said: "My work involves recovering vehicles from motorway crashes and other incidents but I'd finished work for the day and thought I could help people with my own personal truck. It's a six-seater and has a winch that I use for racing at weekends.
"The roads were getting really bad with the floods so I filled the truck up with diesel and thought I may as well see who I could help. There ended up being four people trapped in cars nearby on the Tenbury Road that the fire service were helping. I offered my help and they were grateful.
Luis Freeman has his own recovery truck he uses for car racing that he calls 'Bigfoot', shown
"I did what I could to support them. I kept some rescued people warm in my truck and took some to The Bridge pub to get lifts home. It's the least I could do and everyone was really grateful."
Among those Luis helped were a couple who had been stuck in flood water for seven hours in their car. He said they were going to pick up a dog they were adopting in Wales but never got there.
Another was a 23-year-old man trapped in his car as water reached up to the roof. "People were very frightened, cold and shook up by it all," added Luis. "Being there for a while and alone, that can be traumatising,"
"I just wanted to help people so they can get home, nothing more. I wanted to do what I'd hope others would do for me if I was in that situation."
Luis, who has a passion for restoring vehicles and set up Bewdley and Wyre Forest Classic Car Club, impressed many with his actions. Among them was Fiona Moore, who works for St John's Ambulance, praised Luis: "What a lovely thing to do. Thank you for being so kind."
Carer Bridget Utting added: "That is good of you. I was out working tonight and could not believe how bad it was." Ann Wilson commented: "Thats so kind, well done sir."
Susan Young from Stourport was quick to praise Luis too and said: "What a kind hearted person you are thinking of others. This is rare these days. Bless you."
Another local Kerry Ann said: "This is what gives me hope for humanity....helping each other out without a bank manager in sight. How kind you are. Much respect."
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References
- ^ Worcestershire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Storm Henk flood warnings live here (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Moment 'local hero' saves mum and child trapped in car as raging flood water rises (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Cannock (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Midlands Fire Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Strange M5 landmark near Birmingham that looks like something from sci-fi movie (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ BirminghamLive WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)