UK News 13-10-2000 South Hit By Worst Floods For 40 Years who: Jeweller Vernon Bishop what: Swept away by "tidal wave" of water in Britain`s worst floods for decades where: UCKFIELD when: Yesterday snippet: "The worst flooding in decades brought chaos to much of southern England yesterday," reports The Guardian, "causing millions of pounds in damage as homes and businesses became waterlogged, thousands of people stranded and main roads blocked". "Six rivers burst their banks after up to 5.5ins of rain fell in 24 hours - the average for two months," says The Mirror, "wreaking havoc across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Devon." "Sussex Police urged all drivers to stay at home as main roads, including the A21, A22, A26, A27, A227 and A272, were flooded," reports The Express. "Etchingham station on the main commuter line between Hastings and London had 5ft deep water lapping over the platforms." "Vernon Bishop, 58, was convinced that he was going to die," reports Richard Duce in The Times, "as a wall of water Uckfield, East Sussex, knocked him off his feet and into the swollen river Uck which burst its banks early yesterday after a night of phenomenal rainfall". "The torrent hit the local Tesco and Somerfield supermarkets, sending water gushing down the aisles," says The Sun. "Twenty men, women and children stranded at Somerfield were rescued by lifeboat." "It was the most terrifying moment of my life," said Mr Bishop from his hospital bed, suffering mild hypothermia after being plucked to safety by a helicopter. "The water came out of the shop like a huge wave crashing on to a beach. It literally picked me up and washed me away." [... more]

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