Cop dies in 'biblical' floods
Nov 21, 2009
Cop dies in 'biblical' floods
COCKERMOUTH (England) - A POLICEMAN died after being swept away by 'biblical' floods in Britain's scenic Lake District, officials said on Friday, as helicopters helped evacuate hundreds of stranded residents.
The policeman had been missing since Thursday in Workington in the tourist-friendly region of north-west England, hit by unprecedented rainfall which caused four bridges to collapse.
'I'm very sad to have to report we've recovered a body on the beach of an individual,' said Cumbria Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham, identifying the policeman as Bill Barker, 45. Mr Barker had been directing motorists away from a bridge in Workington when he disappeared.
Tony Cunningham, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Workington, told Sky News television that the flood was 'of biblical proportions' and seen 'once every 1,000 years'.
'The force of the river was absolutely incredible. This is a stone bridge, to wash away a bridge of that size and dimension is incredible,' he said.
More than 200 people were forced to leave their homes overnight, as the bridges collapsed into raging rivers and main roads were blocked. -- AFP
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Nov 21, 2009
Cop dies in 'biblical' floods
COCKERMOUTH (England) - A POLICEMAN died after being swept away by 'biblical' floods in Britain's scenic Lake District, officials said on Friday, as helicopters helped evacuate hundreds of stranded residents.
The policeman had been missing since Thursday in Workington in the tourist-friendly region of north-west England, hit by unprecedented rainfall which caused four bridges to collapse.
'I'm very sad to have to report we've recovered a body on the beach of an individual,' said Cumbria Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham, identifying the policeman as Bill Barker, 45. Mr Barker had been directing motorists away from a bridge in Workington when he disappeared.
Tony Cunningham, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Workington, told Sky News television that the flood was 'of biblical proportions' and seen 'once every 1,000 years'.
'The force of the river was absolutely incredible. This is a stone bridge, to wash away a bridge of that size and dimension is incredible,' he said.
More than 200 people were forced to leave their homes overnight, as the bridges collapsed into raging rivers and main roads were blocked. -- AFP
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