A SON leapt into a river in a vain attempt to save his dad and two other men.
Scott Thomas Daddy, Leslie Forbes, and Kenneth Patrick Hibbins – known as Patrick, died after the 4×4 vehicle they were travelling in plunged into the River Esk in North Yorks.
PAThree men have died after a 4×4 became trapped in the River Esk[/caption]
PALeslie Forbes also died in the horror incident[/caption]
PAKenneth Patrick Hibbins died in the accident[/caption]
PAScott Thomas Daddy died in the tragedy[/caption]
Leslie’s son Richard try to pull the three victims from the Land Rover Discovery.
Richard, 39, was part of an off-road convoy, and travelled in a separate vehicle to his dad.
The three men died after the Discovery was swept away after the car attempted to cross a ford on Thursday.
A friend described Richard’s heroic attempt to save the men. The pal wrote that Richard was “outside the vehicle when it got washed away” but had “fought to save them” in the river, which had swollen to about 5ft following Storm Gerrit.
A resident who lives nearby also said that he witnessed a man attempting to rescue the men from the submerged car.
Leslie, 70, was described as “a loving husband, father and grandfather, who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.”
Chris Ford, who lives nearby, said that the men were part of an off-road- group when they crossed a ford on Rake Lane.
Chris said: “There was a ford they were going over and they were swept down 400 yards.
“They were part of an off-road club. I went down with my tractor. There was a couple of vehicles – one parked up.
“You couldn’t see the (other) vehicle. It was 3ft beneath the water.
“I helped get it out on to the riverbank with three other tractors.”
Richard Burton, a member of East Riding 4×4 Club, wrote on Facebook: “Our club has felt loss before but never on a scale so
big as this. These three great men will leave a very big hole in our hearts.
“They are the kindest souls and never had a bad word for anyone. My love and thoughts for their families will always be there
and I’m honoured to call them my friends. You will be missed greatly.”
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “The vehicle was recovered from the river by the fire service just after 3pm.
“Sadly, the three men inside have died. Another man who attempted to help those in the 4×4 was pulled to safety from the river at
around 12.10pm. He has been receiving medical treatment. Air support was also scrambled to the location.”
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