Police put out message of reassurance over car in Wigan water park lake

It has reached a point now that the police have had to issue a message on social media reassuring people that the car, which was submerged almost to its roof, does not have anyone inside it.

Wigan Today reported on Saturday November 11 that a vehicle with a 69-year-old woman at the wheel, careered out of control and into the lake at Orrell Water Park that morning, continuing with such velocity that it only came to a stop in the middle, some 30m from shore.

The driver, who couldn’t swim, managed to get out of the vehicle and climb on top.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and under other circumstances the fire service’s water incident would have been mobilised.

But because it would have had to come all the way from Heywood and the woman was wet and dangerously cold, paramedics said she needed to be brought to land as soon as possible.

So one of the Wigan firefighters donned water PPE and waded and swam out to the car which was 20 to 30m from shore and set up a line.

The distressed driver was then pulled back to land on the line, wrapped in warm blankets and treated in the back of the ambulance before being taken to Wigan Infirmary for further check-ups.

That was the end of the fire service’s involvement, an officer saying it would be Wigan Council’s responsibility to recover the car.

But the local authority has just issued the following statement: “The responsibility for recovery lies with the car owner through their insurance.

“The AA and Recovery Northwest, acting on behalf of the car insurers are recovering the car from the water tomorrow (November 15) afternoon.

“This involves the use of heavy lift equipment and recovery equipment.

"To avoid any risk to visitors’ whilst the recovery takes place, the car park will be closed tomorrow.”

Meanwhile the following message published on social media by GMP Wigan West still stands: “We have received a number of reports of a vehicle submerged in water at Orrell Water Park, Lodge Road.

"Officers have attended and the vehicle is awaiting recovery. The occupant of the vehicle is safe and well, thank you for all your calls.”