A FAMILY who had a lucky escape when their car overturned and crashed into a lake has thanked everyone who came to their rescue.

Jo Rackham was travelling with her partner and two sons to meet friends for lunch in Chicksgrove when the incident happened last Tuesday (February 14) near Teffont Evias.

She said: “My partner lost control of the car, and before we knew what was happening, we had spun around and found ourselves upside down in the lake opposite the church at Teffont Evias. Thankfully we all managed to get out of the car relatively unscathed.

“We just wanted to thank the numerous people who came to our aid, from the passing mum who called the police for us, several passing district nurses, and other passers by, the very nice gentleman, who lent me his phone so I could call the Compasses to explain why we were late and to alert our friends.

As luck would have it members of Salisbury-based disaster response charity Serve On were in the area after attending a meeting with fellow rescue charity Team Rubicon UK, based in Chilmark, and came across the incident.

They provided help at the scene until emergency services arrived.

Craig Elsdon, Serve On CIS Operations manager, said: "We turned up to see them stood at the side of the road. They had managed to get themselves out and everyone was ok. We took control of the scene, sorted the traffic out and treated them for shock and looked after them.

"It was our pleasure to be of assistance. It is kind of what we do and what we're here for."

Jo thanked Serve On and the emergency services for their help that day, adding: “Further thanks are due to the rescue team from Serve On who happened to be passing and let us wait in their vehicle to keep warm, and eventually dropped us off at the Compasses Inn. We also need to thank the Compasses for their brilliant hospitality and for keeping the kitchen open for us.

"The police and ambulance services were brilliant at looking after us, and making my 12 and 10 year old sons feel better after a fairly terrifying experience. The ride back home in a police vehicle more than made up for the shock of what might have been.

“We feel very blessed to have witnessed first-hand what we think makes this part of the world so special.”