Wild weather last night has resulted in a dramatic river rescue this morning after the Falls Road ford flooded, sweeping a car downstream.

The car was swept 10 metres downstream, where it came to rest after becoming wedged on a rock.

The driver managed to climb out of his window and waited on the roof of his car for help to arrive. Thankfully, a passing motorist noticed the headlights in the water and called the local fire brigade. 

Firefighters threw a rope and a lifejacket to the man, who was wet and cold. "And then we threw another rope across to him and then got him to jump in the water and pulled him to safety", said Warkworth Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer Devon Flewellyn.

 "We gave him some warm clothes to put on. He was pretty wet and cold but otherwise fine."