The city was shocked when Elaine and Philip Marco lost their lives after their car became trapped in flash flooding in Queens Drive
Elaine and Philip Marco died after becoming trapped in their car in a flooded road in Liverpool(Image: Merseyside Police/PA Wire )
Fresh answers to questions about a tragic incident that saw a much-loved married couple from Liverpool lose their lives are expected as an inquest begins today. On August 26, 2023, Elaine and Philip Marco, aged 78 and 77, became trapped in their car in floodwater which had gathered under a bridge in Queens Drive in the Mossley Hill area of south Liverpool.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services to try and save the loving grandparents and respected members of Liverpool’s Jewish community, they were sadly pronounced dead. The tragedy sparked major questions about the danger of flooding in the area and has seen Liverpool City Council bring in a range of safety measures.
An inquest into the devastating deaths of Elaine and Philip was opened shortly after the incident and then adjourned.
The main inquest has been delayed several times – but is now set to begin today.
Tributes to Elaine and Philip Marco in Queens Drive(Image: Liverpool Echo)
An inquest review hearing heard that the married couple made an emergency “SOS call” from their car’s e-calling system as they became trapped in flash flooding under the bridge.
Elaine and Philip Marco were just one week away from their 54th wedding anniversary when they died. Emergency services were called to the scene at 9.20pm, and police performed CPR on Mrs Marco before she was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10.50pm.
A further search of the flooded road and located the vehicle submerged in the water.
Mr Marco was found at 10.47pm and was also treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11.20pm.
In a tribute, the Marcos family said previously: “Elaine and Philip were the most loving, generous and kind-hearted parents and grandparents and we are shocked and heartbroken with their sudden passing under such tragic circumstances.
“May their memory be a blessing.”
Queens Drive remained closed for many months after the tragedy(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
The road was shut between the junctions of North Mossley Hill Road and Dovedale Road for five months while the council oversaw work to replace gullies, repair the carriageway, upgrade street lighting and install CCTV.
The full inquest will sit for seven days and will see a range of witnesses called from various agencies as a full picture of how the tragedy occurred is put together.
The ECHO will be reporting live from the first day of the inquest today at the Gerard Majella Coroner’s Court in Liverpool.