It was a great privilege and pleasure to interview survivors and first responders from two of Britain's most dramatic floods that happened on the same day, 16th August, 52 years apart: Boscastle in 2004 and Lynmouth in 1952. They were in many ways identical, biblical rain funnelling down two rivers in steep-sided valleys that brought trees, boulders and cars crashing through the villages from higher ground. In Lynmouth the flood struck in the middle of the night and 34 people died, in... Read more
It was a great privilege and pleasure to interview survivors and first responders from two of Britain's most dramatic floods that happened on the same day, 16th August, 52 years apart: Boscastle in 2004 and Lynmouth in 1952. They were in many ways identical, biblical rain funnelling down two rivers in steep-sided valleys that brought trees, boulders and cars crashing through the villages from higher ground. In Lynmouth the flood struck in the middle of the night and 34 people died, in Boscastle due to the heroic efforts of firemen, coastguard and the biggest human airlift since WW2, remarkably nobody died. Retold in forensic detail with new gripping archive from tourists, residents and helicopter crews this is the story of two of Britain's worst ever flash flooding events. Shout outs for great work from DOP @PaulWoodd-Walker, AP @HenryCotsford editors @JohnTurner BFE @DanielleHailstones, PM @EmmaStone and PC @Rosievan Kuijk. I hope you can watch.
