RNLI Thames lifeboats rescue two toddlers and three women from flood water

A fifteen-month-old baby girl and a three-year-old boy were among five people rescued from floods by Chiswick and Teddington lifeboats at Putney last week.

Chiswick lifeboat was alerted while patrolling at Putney Hard due to severe flooding and the high Spring tide. Initial reports were that police were searching for a woman and two small children who had been swept into the water at Petershams Ait.

The lifeboat located three women and two children close to Glovers Island. By this time Teddington lifeboat had arrived on scene to join the search.

The crew of Teddington’s D class lifeboat first rescued the two children and their au pair and put them aboard the Chiswick E class lifeboat, where they were treated by the crew for cold.

The Chiswick lifeboat crew decided to transfer the casualties to a PLA launch, which was standing by, as it had a heated cabin. A crew member went with them to render first aid.

Meanwhile, the Teddington lifeboat rescued the other two women and carried them to the PLA launch.

Once the five casualties were safely ashore at Richmond Lock, Chiswick lifeboat carried out a slow search down river to ensure that nobody else was stranded.