Flooding in Boho
A GRANDFATHER and his three grandchildren were part of a dramatic rescue at a notorious flooding spot in the Boho area this week.
The Samsonagh Road, Boho, has fallen victim to high levels of flooding for decades during high levels of rainfall, and the past three weeks have been no exception.
And, last week a grandfather and his grandchildren had a lucky escape when the car they were in went out of control and ended up in in a flood.
Chris McHugh, who lives in Boho, was part of a makeshift rescue team last Tuesday in what he described as an incident that ‘could have been so much worse’.
“Before I landed back from work, my wife came home and had noticed the car floating in the flood and raised the alarm with my father and brother. They were unsure if anyone was in the car because it was that dark until they heard what sounded like a horn.
“My father then ran to get the tractor as I landed on the scene so I hopped out of my vehicle once I realised what was going on and straight onto the tractor.”
The family struggled to get to the car through the flood – and at this stage were operating almost in complete darkness.
“Once we backed into the water I jumped into the water and went over to the car and saw a man and child – it was pitch dark I then had to try and feel around for the towing eye so we could pull the car. The water was so cold and deep which made it a lot harder, plus my father’s tractor was starting to struggle in the deep water.
“We finally got the rope tied and pulled the man out to safety but as we got the car out we realised there was actually three small children in the car.”
Chris said everybody was ‘soaked and shivering’ so they were brought into the house and wrapped in towels.
“This story could have ended so much worse – if my wife had have been any later going home this man and grandchildren wouldn’t have been found until morning which is scary – especially because on one side of the road there is about a 15 foot drop with no barrier and the car could have floated off towards this and just sunk.”
Boho publican Dessie McKenzie told the Herald that the road causing serious problems for those travelling in the area – and hopes that something will finally be done to fix it.
“Basically any time there is even one day’s rain it is in danger of flooding,” he explained.
“It is on a bad bend in the road which straddles the Silees rive,” Dessie went on, “The road visibly sinks on that bend so when there is rain the streams on either side of the road fill up quickly and it crosses the road.
While there is another road to access the area, it still poses a danger – especially to people unfamiliar with the area.
“The danger would be if you are not familiar with the area and were to drive into it you could be carried into the stream as there is a very strong flow.
“A good few years back a man from this area drove into it not knowing it was so high and his car filled with water – he and his three kids had to climb out of car on to its roof to safety.”
Dessie added: “My dad once priced a solution: To pile the road and add a bridge in the early 1980s. At the time it would have cost £28,000. Today to do a similar job would probably cost in excess of £150,000.”
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