River Darent Ford - Riverside, Eynsford, Kent, UK
N 51° 22.074 E 000° 12.656
31U E 305860 N 5694430
The River Darent, in the Kent village of Eynsford, has a bridge and ford across it - side-by-side. Large vehicles are instructed to use the ford as the bridge has a width restriction. Cars sometimes try to cross by the ford - and fail!
Waymark Code: WMM83N
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/08/2014
Views: 2
The Sevenoaks Chronicle's website tells of one such failure:
A HAPLESS motorist dialled 999 after trying and failing to navigate Eynsford ford.
The unnamed driver of a silver family hatchback thought he was a match for the River Darent yesterday afternoon when he shunned the bridge and ploughed into the water.
But barely halfway across his engine died as the river swirled up under his wheel arches.
The embarrassed motorist then had to endure the disbelief of onlookers as crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service set about dragging him clear.
He watched throughout by standing in his sun roof.
The river has been in full flow for weeks, fed by the torrential downpours which have battered the district. The bridge itself has only just been reopened as flood waters subsided and locals have avoided the ford completely.
The Chronicle reported last month that the Darent had been so swollen, it had even filled Eynsford castle’s old moat.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service says the public should still be wary of rivers and waterways and not be complacent following the brief dry spell. Just 6in of fast flowing water can knock an adult off their feet while 2ft can move a car.