I think we can all agree that its bit stupid to attempt this ford , although some got away with it, what would the insurance position be on those who did,nt or indeed those who got through and had later related problems , especially those on film. Were the towing vehicles and drivers there out of kindness/ fun/ or for monetary gain?
The guys in the towing vehicles are in the comments on the video. Apparently there were a lot of warning signs and indeed a half barrier that had do be driven round (on one side at least). One driver said the road doesn't go anywhere much, just access for farms, and there were two detours signposted, one for cars only and one suitable for HGVs. The locals with Land Rovers who know how to get through get a bit ratty if the road is closed completely.
He said that everyone who stopped and asked advice about going through was told not to risk it, and they all turned back. The drivers who went through didn't stop to ask, just barrelled in. I think that video might be everyone who actually tried it, in two days. The Merc driver was on the phone and apparently didn't even see the warnings or the floods until he was in it. He was still on the call when the rescuers spoke to him.
He also said that no payment was asked, and although it was often offered, it would be refused unless equipment had been broken in the rescue. They were doing it out of kindness - warning people not to go in if they stopped, and pulling people out if they got stuck. The Range Rover driver was very pround of his car, and that it pulled the bin lorry out, uphill. He also said he got stuck in the ford once himself, with young children in his car, and that's why he tries to help other people. He was remarkably kind about some of the drivers, for example saying that the bin lorry driver was agency staff who was used to a vehicle with its air intake at the rear.
I was thinking about the MG4 and the way it floated. I wondered if it was an illusion of the camera angle, but it wasn't. 1.8 tonnes of car was lifted off its wheels and was bloody lucky that momentum took it forward to where it got traction again. (The ICE cars, although lighter, weren't floating.)
I think what has happened is that the ICE cars tend to fill up from underneath virtually as soon as they go in, so there is no buoyancy and they carry on driving on the roadway. The EV is much more protected from water ingress from underneath, at least for the 30 seconds that car was in the water, and if the the door seals hold as well then it starts to behave like a boat, with buoyancy, and it floats. despite its weight. However, it doesn't have a rudder.
I noticed someone in the comments ask if the car was an EV because he saw it float and said, ICE cars don't do that, but I've seen Teslas do it.
The floating was potentially very dangerous, and the car could easily have been swept away. I believe MG, when asked, said the car was OK to go through water up to about a foot or 18 inches (don't quote me on that), and people were saying, why so little. But if it's going to float and potentially be swept away it doesn't matter how well protected from water ingress it is!
Don't try this at home, seems to be the message. That guy got very lucky (assuming his oil breather and undertray didn't run into problems), and we can learn from his mistake.
why would I chance that no way
