A dad of two became stuck inside his Tesla when the street he was on flooded on Thursday night amid torrential rain. Craig Silverthorn was caught up in the devastating flooding that hit Neath when culverts failed.
The 45 year old had earlier driven past the Mile End Esso petrol station on his way to drop his daughter off at cadets in Cimla without any problems. But when he drove back to pick her up, it was a very different story.
He watched the car in front of him drive through the standing water outside the petrol station and found himself trapped in his car as it was submerged by water.
"It was within a matter of minutes, it literally happened so quick. I just started floating, I was being taken for a ride! I got stuck in the car and it was filling with water and I couldn't get out because it is an electric car everything shut off. Thankfully, I remembered there was a manual override on the car," he said.
Watch a clip of the flooding here:
Mr Silverthorn was one of the many people caught up in the problems after culverts failed in the Melyn area of Neath. The road was shut by police, floodwater poured into homes and wrecked an antique's business.
See more on the aftermath here: Thunderstorms flood homes and shops and cars are submerged
Mr Silverthorn has two young daughters and said he is thankful he was on his own in the car when the incident happened. "I had my daughter phoning me up crying saying 'Are you okay Daddy?'"
Kayleigh Donovan, 36, was in a car behind Mr Silverthorn when he was swept away by the flood and said that one minute it was fine and the road was drivable and then she saw his car starting to float.
The mother had also used the road earlier at 7:15pm to get to B&M bargains and had no issues getting through. When she could not find what she was looking for in the shop, she got straight back in her car and started to drive back the way she came.
On her return at around 7:25pm she watched as the car in front of her was swept away and realising the imminent danger she was in, pulled into the nearby petrol station. Both drivers said their families have asked them why they tried to drive through the floods and explained that the flooding got worse extremely quickly. "I feel bad enough and stupid enough as it is," said Mr Silverthorn.
Read next:
Road closed as floodwaters pour over wall amid torrential rain
Man had glass removed from his eye after partner smashed vase over his head
Leigh Halfpenny leaves Wales' captain's run amid worrying development before New Zealand game
Welsh Government sets date for 50mph speed cameras on the M4 at Newport to start issuing fines
Person dies after incident on train tracks at Pye Corner, Newport
