Cornwall Surf Lifesavers Assist in Northampton Flood Response

A specialized unit of surf life-saving personnel from Cornwall was deployed to assist in the evacuation of individuals during a significant flooding event in Northamptonshire. Torrential rainfall brought by Storm Bert led to “devastating” inundation in Northampton on Monday, prompting the issuance of a warning regarding potential danger to life. Four individuals from Cornwall’s Surf Life Saving (CSLS) clubs were summoned to support the evacuation efforts for residents and visitors at the inundated Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park. According to CSLS chairman Nigel Bowden, the team operated throughout the night across the location, utilizing an inflatable vessel to search for individuals trapped in caravans that had been submerged by adjacent lakes, a situation he described as leaving “300 lives at risk”. Mr. Bowden stated that the contingent from Cornwall took over from the West Midlands fire brigade, which had successfully completed the initial evacuation of the premises. He clarified that the CSLS team’s assignment was to locate any remaining individuals, and although they thoroughly searched the affected zones, no one was discovered. He commented: “We’re a boat team and there’s not that many in the country so we were called because of that extra skill our lifesavers have.” In 2015, this same team was deployed to Carlisle to assist in the evacuation of residents following the town’s inundation by Storm Desmond. For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright © 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.