This article is from 'bbc', was first published or seen on Fri Oct 10 23:47:11 UTC 2008 and has 2 versions.

It has 0 recommendations - Recommend this revision.

Version 0 Version 1

Spain flood deaths father's grief

Fri Oct 10 23:50:50 UTC 2008

Father's grief over flood deaths

Sun Oct 12 00:03:10 UTC 2008

A British man who lost his wife and one of his twin daughters in flash-floods in Spain has spoken about the tragedy.

A British man who lost his wife and one of his twin daughters in flash floods in Spain has spoken about the tragedy.

Mark Cullen said Lorraine, 47, and Lauren, 14, died trying to cross a ravine with fellow twin Samantha and the girls' Spanish friend Gemma.Mark Cullen said Lorraine, 47, and Lauren, 14, died trying to cross a ravine with fellow twin Samantha and the girls' Spanish friend Gemma.
He said the swollen river was only up to their knees but "one of them slipped and the others came crashing down".He said the swollen river was only up to their knees but "one of them slipped and the others came crashing down".
Samantha grabbed hold of a tree and pulled Gemma to safety but "Lorraine and Lauren were gone", he added.Samantha grabbed hold of a tree and pulled Gemma to safety but "Lorraine and Lauren were gone", he added.
The incident happened as the group attempted to walk across the ravine in L'Olleria, in the Valencia region, on Thursday evening.The incident happened as the group attempted to walk across the ravine to their holiday home in L'Olleria, in the Valencia region, on Thursday evening.
It is believed the Cullens are from Brighton but have a holiday home in the area.Their bodies were found early on Friday morning, just over a mile downriver.
Mr Cullen, 49, said his wife had picked up Samantha from town but when they were driving back home, the water had risen over a bridge.Mr Cullen, 49, from Brighton, said his wife had picked up Samantha from town but when they were driving back home, water - from the River Clariano - had risen over a bridge.
"They got out of the car, all held hands and started to walk across the river.The couple had been married for 25 years"They got out of the car, all held hands and started to walk across the river.
"It was only up to their knees, but one of them slipped and the others came crashing down. It carried them across the edge."It was only up to their knees, but one of them slipped and the others came crashing down. It carried them across the edge.
"My daughter Sam is quite strong and managed to grab hold of a tree and climb up.""My daughter Sam is quite strong and managed to grab hold of a tree and climb up."
'Covered in bruises'Mr Cullen flew out to Valencia with his sons Daniel, 22, and Darren, 19, to be with his surviving daughter as she was treated at a local hospital.
Mr Cullen flew out to Valencia on Friday with his sons Daniel, 22, and Darren, 19, to be with his surviving daughter as she was treated at a local hospital."When I saw Sam, she was absolutely covered in bruises," he said.
"When I saw Sam, she was absolutely covered in bruises," he said. "Nothing is broken but her body's a mess, I've never seen anything like it.""Nothing is broken but her body's a mess, I've never seen anything like it."
He spoke of his grief and said he and his wife had just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.He spoke of his grief and said he and his wife had just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
"It's a blur, you don't expect to lose two members of your family in one hit," he added."It's a blur, you don't expect to lose two members of your family in one hit," he added.
"My priority is to see my wife and daughter and bring them back home. That's all I can do.""My priority is to see my wife and daughter and bring them back home. That's all I can do."
The Foreign Office is providing assistance.The Foreign Office is providing assistance.
Lorraine and Lauren Cullen were swept away after river levels rose
Mrs Cullen and her daughter were swept away by the waters of the River Clariano, which had risen sharply following flash-floods.
Emergency services located the bodies shortly after midnight just over a mile downriver.
Torrential rain over the past few days has left several rivers in eastern Spain running dangerously high and closed the ports of Valencia, Gandia and Sagunto.Torrential rain over the past few days has left several rivers in eastern Spain running dangerously high and closed the ports of Valencia, Gandia and Sagunto.
It has also blocked roads and railway lines.It has also blocked roads and railway lines.
In southern Spain, ferry links to the Moroccan port of Tangier and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta were suspended because of storms.In southern Spain, ferry links to the Moroccan port of Tangier and Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta were suspended because of storms.
The severe weather is set to continue.The severe weather is set to continue.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Advertisement

The gully where the Britons died following heavy flash-flooding in Spain.