An elderly couple drowned in their car days before their 54th wedding anniversary because Liverpool’s sewage system couldn’t ‘cope’ with heavy rain, investigators have found.
Elaine and Philip Marco, 76 and 77, were attempting to drive under a bridge in the Mossley Hill area when the road suddenly flooded in August 2023.
Witnesses saw a ‘plume of water’ bursting out of a blown manhole cover, according to an independent report published by Liverpool City Council on Monday.
‘Due to the force of the water emanating from the public sewer this caused an almost tidal effect within the flood water,’ the report said.
The floodwater then rose ‘extremely quickly’, leaving the Marcos no chance to escape, it added.
Prior to their death, emergency services had been called to the same spot to four other reports of vehicles getting submerged during flooding earlier that year.
On two of those occasions, people had to be rescued from their vehicles.
Water company United Utilities was aware of the rise in incidents and investigated.
Their internal reports found ‘surcharging of the sewer network’ was to blame and that the ‘combined sewer network in the area cannot cope with the volume of water that falls in a short period of time’.
The independent report urged United Utilities, the council, and Network Rail, which operates the bridge, to find a permanent solution to the problem.
Since the Marcos’ death, Liverpool City Council measures including sensors which provide early warnings of rising water levels, CCTV cameras, signage and road barriers.
In a statement after their deaths, the family of the Marcos said their ‘only comfort’ was that the couple died together.
Friends described them as a ‘kind and generous’ couple whose catering business was popular in their local Jewish community.
United Utilities said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of Elaine and Philip Marco and we extend our deepest sympathies to them.
‘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.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s murderer ‘dealing drugs’ in prison with illegal phone
MORE: ‘Demeaning’ US restaurant slammed for objectifying women to expand in the UK
MORE: Major railway line closed after car crashes through barrier and falls onto tracks
