Rugby team to the rescue after car ends up in ditch

Members of a rugby team who witnessed a crash as they headed to a match stepped in to help at the scene in the moments before emergency services arrived.

Hull FC Women were on the M62 near Howden, East Yorkshire, on Sunday when the two-car collision happened in front of them.

Head coach Pete Grayburn said one of the cars left the road, flipped over, landed in a ditch and began to fill with water. He added that he "couldn't be prouder of the girls", who administered first aid, supported the drivers who were in shock, and called the loved ones of those involved.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service took two men to Hull Royal Infirmary.

Grayburn said: "We got the two gentlemen out of the car before anything serious happened because, obviously, we were worried about the water, we were worried about maybe the car [catching fire].

"Everybody had a role and took that on without any hesitation or any guidance. It just happened naturally. As head coach, I was really, really proud of them."

Following the incident, the team went on to win 20-4 against Rochdale Hornets, progressing to the third round of the Women's Challenge Cup.

"It is about winning the game, but there was a bigger picture that played that day, and it certainly wasn't the game of rugby league," said Grayburn.

"On the way home we reflected [on it], and we were reflecting [on it] again at the next training session – just about what the girls have gone through and what they've done. The club's been very supportive with that as well."

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We received an emergency call just before 9am on Sunday morning to report a collision on the M62 near Howden.

"Two ambulances were dispatched to the scene and two patients were conveyed to Hull Royal Infirmary."

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