FOUR people were taken to hospital after their car plunged into the River Cherwell yesterday morning.

The family was rescued by firefighters after their car left the road at Nell Bridge between Aynho and Adderbury, north Oxfordshire.

The car left the road at about 7.15am and fell 10m – 33ft – down the bank and into the river.

Three crews from Banbury, Deddington and Kidlington were called to rescue the family, who were stuck in the car.

Their injuries were last night said to be not life threatening.

An Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The crews arrived at the scene within minutes, and following a prompt scene assessment, established that a single vehicle had left the highway and careered 10 metres through the air finally coming to rest on its side, half submerged in the River Cherwell.

“The four occupants of the vehicle had managed to release themselves from the vehicle but were still in the water, unable to remove themselves due to their injuries, shock, the depth of water and the steep embankment.

“Fire crews quickly gained access to the embankment, entered the water with life jackets and dry-suits and effected a difficult rescue faced with waist deep water, challenging access issues and fuel leaking from the submerged vehicle.”

He said the incident had a “swift and successful conclusion which prevented a potentially more serious outcome”.

One person was taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital by air ambulance and the other three by road ambulance. The emergency services were called to the scene by a member of the public who saw the accident.

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance Service said no one was thought to be seriously injured.

Fuel leaked into the water from the damaged car before firefighters used ‘water-filled booms’ to prevent it spreading downstream.

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