A tragic incident in North Yorkshire has left three men dead after their Land Rover was swept away by a river. The inquest heard that Scott Thomas Daddy, 28; Leslie Forbes, 70; and Kenneth Patrick Hibbins, 59, were attempting to cross a ford on the River Esk when the vehicle became submerged. Forbes’s son, Robert Forbes, who was also in the vehicle, tried to rescue his father and friends by clinging to the roof of the Land Rover as it was carried away by the fast-moving water.
The group, who were experienced 4×4 drivers, were participating in a “green laning” event organized by their club. Despite the swollen river and warnings from others that the ford looked dangerous, they decided to proceed. The Land Rover made it halfway across the river before being swept away downstream and sinking. Emergency services located the vehicle because Robert Forbes remained on the roof in a desperate attempt to help his father and friends.
Robert Forbes described his efforts to save the trapped men, including trying to open the doors and catch a strap thrown from the riverbank. Unfortunately, they were unable to escape as the windows could not be smashed and the doors were impossible to open due to the water pressure. The bodies of the three men were recovered later, and a pathologist determined that they died from drowning.
The inquest revealed the challenges faced by the rescue operation, including the submerged vehicle’s location in fast-moving water. The Land Rover was equipped with a dog cage, which may have hindered escape attempts. Despite the efforts made, the coroner recorded a conclusion of misadventure in the tragic incident.