Prince Charles leaps into flood water
It’s a fantastic and rare display of human spirit that The Prince of Wales climbed into flood water in Yorkshire today despite wearing a double-breasted grey suit. Firefighters, local politicians and members of Charles' own staff looked on with amazement as the Prince insisted on climbing into the murky water at Toll Bar, near Doncaster, after a short ride in a rubber dingy to get a close-up look at the devastation flooding has brought.
Prince Charles, who often receives less endearing public opinion despite his extensive eco-efforts, deserves some serious credit for revealing his human side today. Perhaps more open solidarity with the public would help The Prince’s environmental message touch more people.
[via ITN]
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The boat, rowed by a firefighter and steadied by a host of his colleagues and contractors, slowly weaved along the flooded road for about 100 metres, but after about 15 minutes the water-borne party decided to make for dry land when fire officers became concerned about underwater obstructions.
Later, Charles told evacuated residents: "I was determined to get into a boat."
The Prince surveyed the eerily quiet Yorkshire village with local MP and Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband and Doncaster's elected mayor Martin Winter. He also met some of the firefighters assembled from 26 fire services across the UK who have been battling to control the devastation caused by the flooding.
