THE funeral date has been announced for the 86-year-old war veteran who was swept to his death when his car plunged into the River Kent.

A service will be held for Charles 'Joe' Mercer, of Wood Broughton, Cartmel, on Tuesday, December 1, at 11.30am at Cartmel Priory.

This will be followed by a burial at Field Broughton Church.

Shocked friends have paid tribute to the Zimbabwe-born veteran, who moved to the region 30 years ago and was a regular Sunday church-goer, with one calling him 'a true, old-fashioned gentleman'.

The Rev Nick Devenish, of Cartmel Priory, had planted a cross and laid a wreath with Mr Mercer at a Remembrance Service in the village on November 8.


"He was a regular at Evensong on a Sunday. We're just in shock," said Mr Devenish. "He played an active role in the Second World War and rightly so he was very proud of the part he played, serving the army overseas in the desert.


"He will be deeply missed. He was always smartly-dressed, always made good time and he had a strong sense of duty. It was a privilege to be able to pray with him."


The chairman of Lower Allithwaite Parish Council, Cllr David Huggett, from Cartmel, said: "He was a true, old-fashioned gentleman. He always stopped and said hello. He was a lovely man and would always recognise you."

Mr Mercer died when his Suzuki Jimni crashed through barriers on Aynam Road on Monday, November 9, plunging into the River Kent.

Horrified witnesses were powerless to help as the strong current took Mr Mercer downstream before he disappeared from view near Romney Bridge.

His body was recovered at 10am on Tuesday, November 10, in shrubbery by the Scrogg's Wood stretch of river.

Earlier that day the roof of his car was seen in the river in the vicinity of Romney Road bridge.

At a press conference held on Natland Road at 12.30pm on Tuesday, November 10, Jo Fawcett, Acting Inspector with Cumbria Police, said: "Divers have confirmed there is nobody else in the vehicle. We're waiting for winching equipment to come and get the car out.

"For some reason we're not quite aware of the vehicle has come off the road at Aynam Road and the river was flowing in excess of 10 knots last night (11.5mph).

"We had helicopters helping in the search but they were finding it extremely difficult as it had to fly at heights of less than 500ft because of the bad weather."

The Westmorland Gazette:

 

REPORT FROM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10

A police helicopter was earlier hovering overhead above Watercrook and Wattsfield, on the edge of Kendal, which are regarded as snag points where any body was likely to wash up.

Last night the search for the elderly man believed to be the driver of a car which was washed away down the swollen River Kent was scaled back.

Watch manager Conrad Leather told the Gazette that conditions were so bad that it was impossible for rescuers to enter the fast-flowing river.

"The river is ridiculously high even though we have swift water rescue technicians," he said.

"The life expectancy of someone falling in the river is not great."

The incident unfolded when the car plunged into the river close to the footbridge at Aynam Road at 3.50pm.

The Westmorland Gazette:

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the car floating down the river with a man clinging to its roof.

A number of services have been assisting the search, including fire and rescue, mountain rescue teams, Bay Search and Rescue, and the coastguard along with air support from NPAS and the Coastguard.  

The Westmorland Gazette:

A Kendal Mountain Rescue Team member searching the river banks. Credit Kendal Mountain Rescue Team

At the incident's height, 18 firefighters and around a dozen mountain rescuers from Kendal were involved in the search but that was scaled back because of the weather.

A Cumbria Police spokesperson said last night: "The search has been conducted under difficult weather conditions and the dangers to the emergency service personnel involved means that the search has had to be scaled back with an air search continuing by the coastguard's helicopter.

"This will be reviewed again in the morning."

The fire service also said they had set up a boom downstream at Hawes Bridge near Sedgwick.

 

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Part of the eastern lane of Aynam Road had been coned off and there was traffic congestion along the road.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 117 or ask to speak to Sgt Darren Bawden.