FLOOD VICTIM WANTS TO THANK MAN WHO SAVED HIS LIFE

5.47.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 30th Jul 2007

West Worcestershire's Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Richard Burt, is today launching an appeal to reunite Eddie Hopkins, a resident of Sedgeberrow, with the person who saved his life from the Friday floodwaters.

Richard met Eddie, 66, and his wife Nicky, on a visit to the devastated village over the weekend, where he heard how Mr. Hopkins had to climb out of his kitchen window to safety after having been caught under 7 ft of flood water.

Mr Hopkins told Richard:

"It all started at 2.30pm when water began pouring into the house. My wife, Nicky headed upstairs to safety as I tried to rescue as many of our belongings as possible.

"Within half an hour it was up to my chest and rising ever more quickly. I realised that I needed to escape or I was going to drown. The only thought that kept me going, was that of seeing my eighteen-month-old grandson.

"I pulled myself onto the kitchen sink and forced open the window so that I could swim out of the house. Nicky feared that I had already drowned, and was leaning out of the upstairs window for help.

"I managed to scale the drain pipe onto the porch and then clung on to the waste pie as the waters continued to rise. I didn't have it in me to make it to the upstairs window. I can't clearly remember what happened next, other than someone, from the fire service or police, managed to scramble across the roof and pull me into a nearby rescue boat."

With the onset of hypothermia, Mr. Hopkins was then promptly flown by helicopter to Cheltenham hospital and detained for 24 hours.

Richard Burt today said:

"As someone who has worked in the emergency services, I can understand that this incident will have been just another day for the police or fire officer involved - but is something that will remain with Eddie Hopkins forever.

"Eddie just wants to say thank you to whoever it was that saved him from the floodwaters.

"If you are that person, or have any information that could help Eddie meet the man who saved his life, please make contact with me at richard@richardburt.org or call me on 07970 713032 as I know Eddie would really appreciate the chance to say thank you."