This heartwarming video shows the moment a heroic tree surgeon rescues a pensioner after she drove straight into waste-high flood water at high speed.

In the footage father-of-one Richard Hamshaw can be seen approaching the floating Peugot 306 and using at tow-rope shackle to smash the car window.

Richard, 32, can be heard telling the "shocked" lady in her 70s "you need to get out of there" before lifting her out of the car and walking her back to safety.

Tree surgeon Richard told how he was helping pull other stranded motorists out of the flooded road when the drama unfolded yesterday (Thurs) in Rotherham, South Yorks.

He said: "This car came down quite fast - she mustn't have seen the water - and drove straight into it full-pelt.