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14/08/2008
Girl Dies In Swollen River Fall
A five-year-old girl who was swept half a mile by a flood-swollen river, has died despite attempts to save her.
A major search operation began after the girl, from Holsworthy, Devon, fell into the River Stratt at Stratton, near Bude, at around 12.40pm yesterday
She was flown by helicopter to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, (pictured) where efforts to resuscitate her failed and she later died.
Coastguards, helicopters and the RNLI were involved in the operation and the youngster was lifted from the river just before 2.30pm.
She had been swept about 250m downstream from Howell's Bridge car park in Stratton.
It is understood the girl had been walking the dog with her family when she was caught in a "massive downpour" and was swept downstream.
The South Western Ambulance Service Trust said a woman and another child were treated for shock at the scene.
The Environment Agency said there had been about 30mm of rain in the area in the past 24 hours and the river was "fast-flowing".
Peter Robinson from Bodmin Fire Station, who helped in the search said "the river was swollen, muddy and visibility was very poor".
He added that there was a "fantastic" response from emergency services.
"We also had a number of offers of assistance from the public, for which we were extremely grateful," he said.
The rivers Neet and Stratt converge just outside Stratton and the area is currently on flood watch.
The Environment Agency issued five flood warnings for rivers in Devon and Cornwall and 10 lower status flood watches.
Elsewhere, heavy rains and high winds caused transport chaos across the country.
Dozens of homes were flooded in Fife, with some householders deluged by four feet of water.
Flooding caused delays on trains in Scotland, south Wales and the South West and trees were downed by high winds which disrupted trains on lines out of London to the South East. A force 10 gale caused delays of two hours on cross-Channel ferries out of Dover, a spokeswoman for the port said.
(DS)
A major search operation began after the girl, from Holsworthy, Devon, fell into the River Stratt at Stratton, near Bude, at around 12.40pm yesterday
She was flown by helicopter to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, (pictured) where efforts to resuscitate her failed and she later died.
Coastguards, helicopters and the RNLI were involved in the operation and the youngster was lifted from the river just before 2.30pm.
She had been swept about 250m downstream from Howell's Bridge car park in Stratton.
It is understood the girl had been walking the dog with her family when she was caught in a "massive downpour" and was swept downstream.
The South Western Ambulance Service Trust said a woman and another child were treated for shock at the scene.
The Environment Agency said there had been about 30mm of rain in the area in the past 24 hours and the river was "fast-flowing".
Peter Robinson from Bodmin Fire Station, who helped in the search said "the river was swollen, muddy and visibility was very poor".
He added that there was a "fantastic" response from emergency services.
"We also had a number of offers of assistance from the public, for which we were extremely grateful," he said.
The rivers Neet and Stratt converge just outside Stratton and the area is currently on flood watch.
The Environment Agency issued five flood warnings for rivers in Devon and Cornwall and 10 lower status flood watches.
Elsewhere, heavy rains and high winds caused transport chaos across the country.
Dozens of homes were flooded in Fife, with some householders deluged by four feet of water.
Flooding caused delays on trains in Scotland, south Wales and the South West and trees were downed by high winds which disrupted trains on lines out of London to the South East. A force 10 gale caused delays of two hours on cross-Channel ferries out of Dover, a spokeswoman for the port said.
(DS)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A generally dry and bright day with some sunny spells. However, thicker cloud could give patchy rain at first near North Channel coasts, perhaps the odd shower breaking out in the west later in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 16 °C.Tonight:Any showers in the west soon dying out, dry for most with some clear spells. Showery outbreaks of rain could develop across parts of the south overnight. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
