FLOOD HORROR
Housebound granny, 83, died as she tried to flee rising water levels in her house during Storm Babet
A HOUSEBOUND granny died as she tried to flee the rising water levels in her house during Storm Babet.
Maureen Gilbert, 83, was found dead at her home in Derbyshire by her son and grandson on Saturday.
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Her family became concerned for her wellbeing when her street in Chesterfield flooded.
As water swept into the home, her son Paul Gilbert raced towards her - a journey that would take seven hours.
By the time he could get there flooding meant the house was impossible to reach.
He returned at 9.30am on Saturday to find his mother's body.
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Mr Gilbert told : "I was hoping she'd got upstairs and everything was alright and that we'd see her the next morning.
"For me to have to come and find her myself was upsetting.
"I can't put it into words what it means at the moment."
Maureen's home was previously ravaged by floods in 2007 - prompting her son Paul to install water defences.
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Tragically, the preventative measures were ineffective when Storm Babet forced the river nearby to burst its bank.
It is believed water in the street was eye level at its peak.
Maureen's neighbours said the pensioner lived downstairs as she was unable to get to the next level of her property.
Writing on a fundraising page, her daughter-in-law Kaye said: "After a sleepless night, my husband and son found my 83-year-old, housebound, mother-in-law, had passed away.
"She had unfortunately been unable to escape upstairs at the speed the water levels were rising.
"Not only do we have an uninsured house as the excess for flood damage was over £10,000 to clean and restore but a funeral to pay for all whilst grieving.
"She lived on the street all her life, rebuilding after the 2007 flood was hard for us and her but this is just devastating.
"We now only have memories as everything else is gone.
"My husband put his mothers flood defences up to his chest in the doorways and made preparations to secure the house as he has done many times during such weather warnings.
"However, when the river burst, the water just came pouring over at rapid speed and the defences did very little.
"The waters were much higher than the 2007 flood and came with a faster flow and pressure which resulted in my husband being stopped from trying to enter the property to check on his mum."
Heartbroken Paul has since been back to the house on Sunday to try and salvage any of his mother's belongings.
Upsetting pictures from inside the mid-terrace property show terrifying lines on the wall to where the flood water rose to.
Sentimental items, such as photos from her wedding day with late husband Jack, were saved from the wreckage.
A heartbroken friend said of Maureen: "She was such a character, she was a massive football fan, she was a big Liverpool fan and followed Chesterfield too.
"I'm devastated, it's just heartbreaking it could have been allowed to happen. I think questions need to be asked.
"Surely there should be a central database of housebound residents so they can be made a priority for help?"
She had unfortunately been unable to escape upstairs at the speed the water levels were rising
Kaye Gilbert - daughter-in-law
Emergency services were scrambled following Maureen's "sudden death".
It brought the death toll from Storm Babet to at least seven, as horrendous conditions rage on for a fourth day.
Emergency services went to the home in Chesterfield where they found the woman on Saturday at 10.35am.
Derbyshire Police said: "An investigation has been launched after the body of a woman was found at a property in Chesterfield.
"Officers, along with colleagues from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and from East Midlands Ambulance Service, arrived at the property and found a woman, aged in her 80s, inside the flat.
"Investigations are continuing into the cause and circumstances surrounding her death, but it is believed it is related to the flooding seen in the Chesterfield area."
Heavy flood alerts are in place for England, Wales and Scotland.
The River Derwent in Derbyshire burst its banks bringing turmoil for people living in surrounding areas.
Three severe flood warnings were issued, suggesting a potential danger to life - around Chaddesden, Little Chester, Eastgate, Cattle Market and near Derby City Water Works.
The Environment Agency said deep and fast-flowing water brought a significant risk of death or serious injury on top of severe disruption to local communities.
Derby City Council told of record-breaking water levels in the River Derwent and warned a post-floods clean-up could take several days.
England is tipped to be the worst-hit area on Sunday with the Met Office issuing more than 300 alerts.
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National Rail urged people to only travel if necessary, as major disruptions was expected throughout the day and train routes across the entire country were disrupted.
The devastating storm previously claimed the lives of six people.
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