Three men killed in 4×4 ‘swept away’ by river in Yorkshire named by police
The trio were found dead inside their vehicle after it became submerged in the River Esk near Glaisdale.
Three men who died when their 4×4 vehicle was “swept away” at a river crossing in Yorkshire have been named by police.
Scott Thomas Daddy, 28, from Hull, Leslie Forbes, 70, from the East Yorkshire area, and Kenneth Patrick Hibbins, 59, known as Patrick, from York, were found dead inside the vehicle after it became submerged in the River Esk near Glaisdale shortly before midday on Thursday.
Chris Ford, who lives nearby, told the PA news agency the men were part of an off-roading group when they attempted to crossed a ford on Rake Lane.
Police were at the scene on Friday where the 4×4 was removed by four other vehicles including two tractors using tethers as flowers were laid on the bank in tribute to the trio.
Mr Daddy’s family said in a statement he had a “bright future” but was “taken suddenly (but too early) doing something he enjoyed”.
Mr Forbes was “a loving husband, father and grandfather, who will be sadly missed by his family and friends”, his family said.
Mr Hibbins “will be sadly missed by all his close friends and work colleagues”, his family said.
The incident came as Storm Gerrit caused flooding and travel disruption across the country throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
Mr Ford, a firewood salesman, was called to the scene to help recover the vehicle with his tractor, he said.
He and two others used tractors to pull the 4×4 onto the riverbank, he said.
Police said another man, who attempted to help those trapped in the car, was pulled from the river and needed medical treatment.
“I went down with my tractor. There was a couple of vehicles, one parked up.
“You couldn’t see the (other) vehicle. It was three feet beneath the water.
“I helped get it out on to the riverbank with three other tractors.”
Two other locals, Rosie and Andrew Dale, said they were with Mr Ford when he got the call to help.
The area is popular with 4×4 drivers, Ms Dale said, adding: “In the summer you get 10 of them at a time.”
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “We ask that you respect the families’ privacy at this extremely difficult time, and allow them time to grieve.”
