A man plucked to safety by helicopter after being stranded in floodwater is still recovering in hospital from the effects of hypothermia.

A man plucked to safety by helicopter after being stranded in floodwater is still recovering in hospital from the effects of hypothermia.

The man, who is in his 40s and from Heacham, is believed to have got stuck in water at Welney, on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border, after trying to drive across the flooded A1101 road.

He was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, at around 10am on Sunday by an RAF Sea King after fire crews were unable to reach him.

Rescuers believe he may have been in the freezing cold water for six to eight hours before anglers fishing on the nearby Delph heard his cries for help and raised the alarm on Sunday morning.

The Air Sea Rescue helicopter winched down a crewmember to pick up the victim who was hanging on to a tree branch.

Flight Lt Andy Ball said yesterday: “It was a pretty straightforward rescue and took only a few minutes as we spotted him in the water as soon as we arrived. It is pretty unusual for us to be called to deal with an inland water job.”

Last night, a hospital spokesman said the man was recovering but was still quite poorly.

Water on the Ouse Washes floodplain has risen to cover the A1101, leaving it impassable for most vehicles.

The parish council and South-West Norfolk MP Christopher Fraser are calling on action to resolve the problem.

The council has written to a number of departments and organisations calling for help and is also trying to get a coalition of villages to act together in raising the issue.