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Emergency crews rushed to the scene in the early hours of Saturday morning after a lorry careered off the road and became partially submerged in water off Thames Way, Northfleet in Gravesend.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) confirmed it was called at around 4.29am to reports of a serious collision involving a heavy goods vehicle. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the lorry had left the carriageway and entered a water-filled ditch or canal adjacent to the road.

Six fire engines were deployed alongside two specialist water safety units. Crews used hydraulic cutting equipment, rams, and swift water rescue gear to safely extricate the trapped driver.

One person was rescued from the lorry and handed over to South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) for medical attention. Their condition has not yet been made public.

Kent Police and local authority officers also attended the scene to assist with the operation and manage the area, which was cordoned off during the rescue.

A spokesperson for KFRS said:

“Firefighters wearing drysuits and equipped with water safety tools worked in challenging conditions to access and remove the casualty. This was a coordinated multi-agency response to a very serious incident.”

Emergency services stood down at approximately 7.13am, and recovery operations for the lorry are now underway. Thames Way is expected to remain partially closed for several hours while the vehicle is removed and safety assessments are carried out.

Witness Appeal

Police have urged anyone who saw the incident or has dashcam footage from the area around the time of the crash to contact them on 101, quoting incident reference 240726-0429.