A Roxwell family survived the Boscastle flash flood this week while holidaying in Cornwall but their two pet dogs were swept into sea.

Forty-five-year old Margaret Blanks and her daughters Jade, 18, and Maria, 12, were enjoying tea and scones with grandmother Sylvia Bristow, 75, from Writtle, in one of the picture postcard cafes when a wall of water swept through the building on Monday.

They escaped by climbing through a back window before turning back to search for Holly, a King Charles spaniel, and Wilbert, a Weimaraner, they had left in their car.

The family were distraught when they realised that Holly, 12, and nine year old Wilbert must have been trapped in the car as it was tossed into the harbour by the flood.

Mrs Blanks and her daughters were forced to give up their search for the pets and they were airlifted to Barnstaple hospital by an RAF Air-Sea Rescue helicopter. Mrs Bristow was carried to safety by firemen and taken to a community centre.

All four had been at the Carpenter's Kitchen, directly in the path of the torrent.

Mrs Blanks said: "We are all so very upset about losing Holly and Wilber. They were part of the family as we have had them from puppies. We keep thinking if only they had been with us they would have been alive."

Mrs Blanks described their horror as water began pouring in through the front door of the cafe as frantic staff tried to close it. Minutes later they escaped through a back window and the building collapsed

She said: "The water kept pouring in so we rushed to a back window and managed to climb out and make our way to higher ground.

"n occupant of one of the cottages beckoned us to come over but because we were worried about Holly and Wilbert we tried to get back to the car park. As we walked towards the park fire fighters warned us not to go near it."

Published Thursday August 19, 2004

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