Couple talk of flood air rescue

The Smiths were among about 150 people airlifted to safety

A Staffordshire couple who were airlifted from a hotel during flash floods in north Cornwall have been speaking about their ordeal.

Rod and Theresa Smith, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, were rescued from the property in Boscastle on Monday night.

Mr and Mrs Smith have praised the work of the emergency services and the villagers who put them up overnight.

But Mr Smith said they felt lucky to have survived. "It was just total devastation," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

I just dread to think what could've happened Rod Smith

He added: "The river was obviously very high.

"It'd broken its banks and gone straight through the car park and there were cars just being swept straight down the river one after another.

"There was absolutely no way anybody could've got out of them if anyone was in those cars by that time.

"I just dread to think what could've happened.

"There were people up on the roofs waving to the helicopters to bring them out."

The couple, who are from Clayton, saw their car swept to sea and also had to abandon their luggage at the hotel.

In pictures: Flooding in Cornwall

Mrs Smith said she was very grateful to the emergency services.

"They airlifted seven of us out of our hotel. I think there were about 12 or 13 people in the helicopter.

"When we went off I think they airlifted about 50 people altogether.

"The people in the area have all rallied round. They've all helped everyone.

"All the villagers came to the church hall. We've had people from the village take us in and we slept in their house.

"You couldn't say enough about everyone."

Rescuers are currently searching debris for victims of the floods.

Police said 15 people remained "unaccounted for", with relatives unable to make contact with them.