17 February 2025 , 17:52
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Elaine and Philip Marco were loving grandparents and popular members of their local Jewish community when they died in Liverpool in August 2023
A couple who drowned days before their 54th wedding anniversary became trapped in floodwater caused by the sewer network which could not "cope" with heavy rainfall, a new report has claimed.
Elaine Marco, 76 and husband Philip, 77, died when their black Mercedes became submerged in the Mossley Hill area of Liverpool in August 2023. The road, which dips underneath a bridge, was closed to vehicles for five months after the incident.
But emergency services had already been called on four occasions to help other vehicles submerged in water in that same spot in the months leading up to their deaths. Members of the public reported a "plume of water" gushing out of the sewer, where a manhole cover had blown, causing the water level to rise "extremely quickly", the report added.
The findings were published in an independent report commissioned by Liverpool City Council and engineering firm Mott Macdonald yesterday (Mon). It read: "Due to the force of the water emanating from the public sewer this caused an almost tidal effect within the flood water."
Four other vehicles became submerged on the same section of road in May, June and July that year ( Image: Jason Roberts photography)
Four other vehicles became submerged on the same section of road in May, June and July that year, with people rescued from their vehicles on two occasions, the report found. All of the incidents took place when yellow or amber weather warnings for either heavy rain or thunderstorms were issued.
According to the report, an investigation into the flooding and hydraulic modelling carried out by water company United Utilities showed "surcharging of the sewer network" during heavy rainfall was the primary cause of the flooding. It said: "The combined sewer network in the area cannot cope with the volume of water that falls in a short period of time."
The highway drainage system contributed to the flood, it found. The frequency of flooding incidents was noted to have risen in 2023, with the cause still to be verified.
The report recommended United Utilities, along with the council and Network Rail, work together to find permanent solutions to reduce the frequency and impact of flooding in the area.
Since the fatal incident, Liverpool City Council has installed measures including sensors which provide early warnings of rising water levels, CCTV cameras, signage and road barriers. In a statement after their deaths, the family of the Marcos said the "only comfort" was that they were together to the end.
Friends described them as a "kind and generous" couple whose catering business was popular in the local Jewish community they were part of.
A United Utilities spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of Elaine and Philip Marco and we extend our deepest sympathies to them. We participated fully in this report into the flooding at Queens Drive and will continue to work with all organisations that have an impact on surface and groundwater in this area so that we can improve drainage at this location and across the wider city region."