Inquest begins into tragic deaths of Liverpool couple as report finds sewer system could not cope

Local TV

Fresh answers are expected as the inquest opens into the deaths of Elaine and Philip Marco, after an independent report found that flooding on Queens Drive was caused when the sewer network became overwhelmed during heavy rainfall.

Transcript

00:00New details are expected as the inquest opens into the deaths of Liverpool couple Elaine and Philip Marko.

00:07The Markos, who were well-respected members of the city's Jewish community,

00:11died after their car became submerged by flood water in a section of Queen's Drive in Mosley Hill in August 2023.

00:18It happened just days before their 54th wedding anniversary.

00:22An inquest into their deaths was opened shortly after the incident and then adjourned.

00:25Now, as the full inquest begins, attention is turning again to how the tragedy could have happened.

00:31An independent report commissioned by Liverpool City Council with engineering firm Mott MacDonald

00:37concluded that flooding on the road was caused because the sewer network could not cope with heavy rainfall.

00:44Members of the public reported a plume of water gushing from the sewer's inspection chamber

00:49where the manhole cover had blown, causing water levels to rise extremely quickly.

00:53The report said the force of the water created an almost tidal effect within the flood.

00:58Hydraulic modelling carried out by United Utilities found that surcharging of the sewer network

01:03during heavy rainfall was the primary cause of the flooding

01:06and that the combined sewer network could not cope with the volume of water falling in a short period.

01:13Since the fatal incident, Liverpool City Council has installed sensors to detect rising water levels

01:19along with CCTV signage and road barriers.

01:22The report recommended United Utilities, the council and Network Rail work together to find permanent solutions

01:27to reduce both the frequency and the impact of flooding in the area.

01:31The family of Philip and Elaine previously said the only comfort following the tragedy

01:36was that the devoted couple were together to the end

01:39and friends described them as kind and generous.

01:42So, protective equipment for the ceiling are almost idle now,

01:51and we thank the social distancing when he takes place.

01:52So, today, we were told that the leader of the work of the police are indeed

01:53and we are made sure that the safety of the police are in a long period of time

01:54that the police are out of order only barely able to come out of an enemy's act.

01:55We are a member of the police officers who rare that the police are out of that

01:57when the police are a team meeting or the police are needed.

01:59And we start to put a constructive meeting right now,

02:00and we start to recognise the public department now.

02:02We'll see you again as a result of the public's work that the police officers

02:03and we'll see you again and look forward to the police officers.

02:05We'll see you again as a result of the police officer who's here

02:06in the past, and we'll discuss.

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