Twin recalls flood deaths horror

Lauren (right) died after torrential rain hit the Valencia region

A twin has described the moment her sister and mother were swept to their deaths by flash floods in Spain.

Lorraine Cullen, 47, and daughter Lauren, 14, were killed as they tried to cross a swollen river to reach their home near Valencia on 9 October.

Lauren's twin Samantha, from Brighton, said she managed to survive by holding on to weeds, while her Spanish friend Gemma saved herself by grabbing a rock.

Samantha said the memory of that day kept going through her mind.

Mrs Cullen and Lauren were carried off by the current in the River Clariano in L'Olleria.

Their bodies were found early the next day, about a mile downriver.

'All hurting'

Samantha said: "All I remember is when we fell and mum tried to grab on to loads of stuff. That keeps playing at the back of my mind.

"As I went [over] there were weeds sticking into the ground so I managed to grab on to them and stay on them.

"My friend smacked against a rock so she managed to grab hold of it and stay on it."

Mr and Mrs Cullen had been married for 25 years

The pair spent two hours climbing to the top of a hill, where they raised the alarm.

The deaths came just after the Cullens' 25th wedding anniversary.

Mark Cullen, 49, and his sons Daniel, 22, and Darren, 19, said Samantha had felt the loss the most.

Mr Cullen said: "I loved her [Lorraine] to death. We've done everything together. You'd never have thought suddenly they'd get swept away like that.

"Me and the boys have had a chat. We've got to do what's right for Sam.

"Though we are all hurting, for her it's like her [right] arm has gone."

Mr Cullen said the fact that Sam is left handed and Lauren was right handed meant their family had always been perfectly balanced.