River Wear live: Car enters water near Wearmouth Bridge as major emergency response launched

River Wear live: Car enters water near Wearmouth Bridge as major emergency response launched A huge emergency response is under way after a car entered the River Wear in Sunderland - follow our live updates A major emergency response is under way after a car entered the River Wear in Sunderland. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said officers were called shortly before 1.30pm today to a report of a car entering the river near Wearmouth Bridge. Police, firefighters, coastguard crews and paramedics are at the scene, and members of the public are being asked to avoid the area. Pictures show boats working at the scene and a large number of emergency vehicles parked near Panns Bank. Key Events Fire service confirms its teams are assisting with rescue efforts A spokesperson for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said: "We can confirm that earlier this afternoon (Tuesday 29 September), two fire appliances, the TWFRS fire boat and a number of officers were dispatched to an ongoing incident on the River Wear, near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. "Our dedicated teams are assisting blue light colleagues with the ongoing rescue efforts." Great North Air Ambulance Service confirms helicopter deployed A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance Service said: "Our critical care team was activated at 1.35pm to an incident on the River Wear, near Monkwearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. "We had a doctor and paramedic on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 1.53pm." Monkwearmouth Bridge is adjacent to Wearmouth Bridge. Air ambulance sent to scene, North East Ambulance Service says In a statement, a spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We received a call to 999 at 1.23pm today (Tuesday 29 September 2026) to reports of an incident involving a car entering the River Wear near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. "We sent to the scene an emergency ambulance, a clinical team leader, three officers, air ambulance and the full Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). "We are working closely with the coastguard and the police, and we remain on scene at this time." Northumbria Police statement A Northumbria Police spokesperson has said: "Shortly before 1.30pm today (Tuesday), we received a report of a car entering the River Wear near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. "Emergency services are currently at the scene. We would ask members of the public to avoid the area."