30/11/2009

Floods Claim Latest Victim

A 60-year-old woman who fell into a river in Cornwall has died.

She entered the water at Hessenford at around 8pm on Saturday night.

Although the police and firefighters were called to the scene and carried out a search of the area before finding the woman - it was too late - even though a police dog handler dragged her from the river and carried out resuscitation on her.

She was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth by a search and rescue helicopter but was pronounced dead.

The death came as parts of the South West were hit by flash floods over the weekend, with water levels as high as four feet in Devon.

Around 18in of water flooded the road at Fellowes Place, in Millbridge, near Plymouth, which was pumped out by firefighters.

The basements of four properties in Mutley, near Plymouth, were also affected by floodwater along with houses in Elburton, near Plymstock, and Ivybridge.

Firefighters also rescued three people from a car trapped in floodwater in Devonport, Plymouth, and another vehicle from water in Alston Cross, Ashburton.

More heavy rain has caused flooding in towns and villages across North Yorkshire.

About a dozen people were rescued by firefighters from three caravan parks on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough on Sunday night.

Crews took them by boat to an emergency centre in the town.

(BMcC/KMcA)

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