Sewer caused flood where couple died - report

An independent report into flooding that resulted in the deaths of an elderly couple in Liverpool in 2023 has said a sewer was unable to cope with heavy rainfall that fell in a short space of time.

Elaine and Philip Marco, aged 75 and 77, died when their car became submerged under a bridge in Queens Drive in August 2023.

Warning lights, sensors and safety barriers have since been installed.

A United Utilities representative said the company would continue to work with "all organisations that had an impact on surface and groundwater" to improve drainage at the site.

The report also detailed four previous incidents in 2023 where cars were submerged under the bridge. On two of the occasions, people who were trapped had to be rescued by emergency services. No-one was injured.

After the deaths, the road was shut between the junctions of North Mossley Hill Road and Dovedale Road for repair works, and a flood alert system and CCTV were installed and the road reopened in February last year.

However, heavy rainfall shut the road again in July for almost six weeks.

The report recommends United Utilities works to find a permanent solution with support from Liverpool City Council and Network Rail.

In a statement, a Liverpool City Council representative said the report, which was commissioned with engineering firm Mott Macdonald as an independent party, had been shared with relevant parties and published online.

"Under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the council has a duty to investigate incidents of flooding that are considered to be 'locally significant'," the representative said.

In a statement a United Utilities representative said: "We participated fully in this report into the flooding at Queens Drive and will continue to work with all organisations that have an impact on surface and groundwater in this area so that we can improve drainage at this location and across the wider city region."

An inquest into Mr and Mrs Marco's deaths is scheduled to take place in November.

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