Storm Babet claims sixth life as man trapped in car in floodwater found dead

A man who became trapped inside his car in floodwater has been found dead, police confirmed, marking the sixth death due to Storm Babet. A major search operation was launched on Friday after the incident was reported near the Aberdeenshire village of Marykirk which was under a red warning for extreme weather. The alarm was raised around 3am on Friday morning.

"Officers carrying out searches following an incident on Friday, October 20, where a man within a vehicle was trapped in floodwater near Marykirk, have recovered the body of a man and a vehicle," a Police Scotland spokesperson said.

STV NewsMarykirk was overcome by floodwater on October 20. STV News

"Formal identification is still to take place, however next of kin have been informed." Six people have died across the UK due to the impact of Storm Babet, including three in Scotland.

West Mercia Police said a man in his 60s died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water from a brook that breached a road in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire on Friday morning. The day before, Police Scotland confirmed a falling tree hit a van near Forfar in Angus, killing a driver. John Gillan, 56, was driving on the B9127 at Whigstreet near Forfar, Angus, when the incident happened at about 5.05pm on Thursday.

Emergency crews arrived and attempted to treat the 56-year-old, from Arbroath, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards[1].

Police ScotlandJohn Gillan died during Storm Babet last week. Police Scotland

Earlier on Thursday, a 57-year-old woman died after being swept into a river in Angus. The body of Wendy Taylor was found[2] in the Water of Lee in Glen Esk at around 4pm on Thursday after reports she had become trapped in the water during the torrential conditions.

In a statement released through Police Scotland, her family said: "We are absolutely heartbroken to lose Wendy in such tragic circumstances and are still struggling to come to terms with it. Wendy was a beautiful, kind, funny and caring person. She was a ray of sunshine for everyone who was fortunate enough to know her."

Police ScotlandThe body of Wendy Taylor was found in the Water of Lee in Glen Esk at around 4pm on Thursday.

Police Scotland

83-year-old Maureen Gilbert was found dead in her flooded home in Tapton Terrace, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on Saturday morning. Mrs Gilbert's neighbours said 5ft of water had engulfed the inside of their properties "within minutes" of the River Rother bursting its banks. Two women died after a five-vehicle crash on the M4 on Friday morning which is believed to have been weather-related.

Four cars and an HGV were involved in the crash on the eastbound carriageway between junction 17 for Chippenham and junction 18 for Bath.

'Long road to recovery'

STV NewsFacebook / Scot KilminsterHumza Yousaf visited Brechin after Storm Babet brought floods across Scotland and washed away a road near Longforgan. STV NewsFacebook / Scot Kilminster

Humza Yousaf told Storm Babet victims it will be a "long road to recovery" as he visited a severely flooded town in Angus. The First Minister arrived in Brechin on Monday to speak with residents and assess the damage wreaked by Storm Babet.

During his visit, Yousaf told one local that the Government will "support as much as we can". Yousaf visited residents on River Street, the worst hit part of Brechin, after the River South Esk burst its banks on Friday. Residents were urged to evacuate their homes after a "danger to life" warning was put in place.

The storm saw Scotland's second and third ever red alerts issued by the Met Office due to extreme rain and wind.

References

1. ^ pronounced dead shortly afterwards (news.stv.tv)
2. ^ The body of Wendy Taylor was found (news.stv.tv)