Couple get engaged while stuck on car roof in Taunton floods

Ashley Stevens, 22, and Davie Woodley-Kingston, 24, from Totton, Southampton, were enjoying a romantic getaway in Chard to celebrate their first anniversary on Sunday, November 24, when they decided to travel to Taunton for dinner.

Unfortunately, after trying to navigate the floods caused by Storm Bert the couple's car became stuck in floodwater in Broughton Lane, Taunton, at around 6.30pm.

The couple on the car roof. (Image: Ashley Stevens)

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Ashley, an imports and exports administrator at Southampton Docks, said: "We were going out for dinner at Nandos in Taunton, where we'd visited last year, and we took about five different turns because of the floods. We got to the point when we only had one way to go and had to go for it."

Davie, who also works at Southampton Docks as a health and safety advisor, added: "It looked like you could see tarmac on the other side of the flood. It was Broughton Lane, near Taunton Racecourse."

The couple's BMW E46 was unable to make it through the floodwater and started to fill with water, at which point Davie climbed out onto the roof and pulled Ashley up to safety through the window. 

Ashley said: "The car was submerged, with the water over the headlights, it was all coming in the footwell and everything. Davie had to pull me out of the window onto the roof."

Ashley was given a piggyback to safety by a fireman. (Image: Ashley Stevens)

Davie had flowers for Ashley hidden in the boot of his car. (Image: Ashley Stevens)

After ringing the fire service for help and climbing onto the roof, the couple sat "freezing" on top of the car in the dark for around half an hour — at which point Davie popped the question.

Recalling the moment, Ashley said: "We both got on top of the roof and I started crying because I was panicking, but then we saw the lights of the fire brigade in the distance, calmed down a bit and we both started laughing.

"Then he just said; 'This was planned for later but it seems like a more memorable moment to do it now'. He proposed again properly when we got back, got on one knee and gave me the ring."

The flooded car footwell (left), and Ashley's engagement ring (right). (Image: Ashley Stevens)

She added: "The firemen were great, brilliant, they took loads of photos when they heard we'd got engaged. They were really lovely, from the Taunton Fire Station.

"I didn't see it coming, I had no clue. I didn't believe him at first, it was emotional."

Once warmed up inside the firetruck, Ashley called her dad to give him the good news and let him know that they were safe.

The couple then did an impromptu engagement photoshoot in front of the firetruck, Ashley said: "It was so muddy, but Davie had flowers in the boot of the car for me that luckily survived. The ring was back here as he was planning to do it back at the Airbnb."

The couple are car enthusiasts, making the unique proposal all the more meaningful. (Image: Ashley Stevens)

Firefighters were able to pull the BMW from the water. The vehicle survived the flooding and could be driven home.

Ashley added: "The car started and drove us home. The firemen dragged it out and said screw it we'll see if it starts and it did the first time. I had to have my feet on the dashboard as there was loads of water, and Davie had to drive barefoot.

"But the car is alright, we've got away with a wet car and a dent in the roof where we were sat. Everything works, even the speakers that were submerged in water."

The couple met through their love of cars, making the engagement location even more apt. Mutual friends arranged for car enthusiast Davie to take photos of Ashley's car and "it went from there".