Fire chief's warning after death of Walsall flash flood victim

Peter Harnwell, aged 82, may have been attempting to take some pictures of the storm in Rushall when he died, an inquest heard.

But tragically he ran into trouble when his vehicle was completely submerged - with only the roof showing when emergency services arrived.

He was underwater in the van for approximately 10 minutes, while members of the public desperately tried to smash the windows and free him.

Despite their efforts, and that of the police, fire service and paramedics, Mr Harnwell died less than two hours later at Walsall Manor Hospital.

Senior Coroner for the Black Country Zafar Siddique gave a verdict of misadventure.

He said: "Clearly he took a calculated risk when he travelled into the water but then that resulted in his death."

West Midlands Fire Service has now warned all drivers to never enter flood water, following the pensioner's death.

Fire officer commander Jon Grimshaw said: "The advice we would always give is not to enter flood water.

"There could be unseen debris that could be dangerous, it's difficult to judge the overall depth and flow due to poor visibility and man hole covers could be dislodged leading to deeper pockets."

Witnesses spotted Mr Harnwell, who lived alone in Evesham, driving his silver camper van under the bridge in Lichfield Road - despite the flood warning signs - during a torrential rain storm back in May this year.

The inquest on Monday heard Mr Harnwell had driven past several warning signs, and towards an abandoned car which was already floating in the water, before he became stuck.

It was just after 2am on May 28, when witness Oliver Rowan said he saw flashing lights outside the window of his home in Lichfield Road, and went outside to investigate.

He said he saw a 'silver box style van' drive into a pool of water under the bridge, so he shouted at him to 'get out'.

In a statement read out to the inquest Mr Rowan said: "The van was only submerged to the headlights then, and I could see him trying to steer. Then it started to tilt."

Along with a Highways Agency worker who was with him, Mr Rowan waded into the water in a bid to help Mr Harnwell.

Once at the van, they tried to lift the roof and smash the window with a hammer, but both attempts failed.

Emergency services quickly arrived and swam out to assist, and managed to cut a three-metre gap in the van's roof.

A firefighter then reached in and pulled out Mr Harnwell by his leg, before beginning CPR.

When CPR failed to work, the elderly gentleman was transported off the roof of the van by an air mattress provided by a member of the public, and put in the care of paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service.

He was pronounced dead at hospital about two hours after the incident, with doctors concluding he died from drowning.

Mr Siddique praised witness Oliver Rowan for his help, saying he 'should be commended for coming to Mr Harnwell's aid'.

He gave his condolences to Mr Harnwell's family, who were not present at the inquest, before giving the verdict of misadventure.

He said: "It may well have been that the reason he was out that morning was to perhaps take some pictures of the storm as it unfolded."

The coroner added: "I am satisfied that there was clear signage and also it was apparent that another vehicle had been abandoned, suggesting the water was extremely deep.

"It's clear he took a calculated risk when he travelled into the water but sadly, that ultimately resulted in his death. It was an act he did intentionally but he didn't intend the outcome."