A RHAYADER couple described how frightened they were as they waded through chest high water in the early hours of Saturday morning after a caravan park was submerged.
Peter and Sue Leech from Brynheulog have kept their caravan at the Riverside Caravan Park in Borth for many years, but had never witnessed anything like the scene when they awoke at 4.30am.
Sue said: “I could hear voices and pulled back the curtains to see water gushing past on both sides of the caravan.
“Luckily we were on slightly higher ground and the water flowed underneath our caravan, but most others weren’t so lucky. Some of the touring and some static caravans have been completely wrecked.”
Along with 60 other holidaymakers, Peter and Sue had to wade through chest-high water and were then pulled up a bank to safety by rescuers using ropes.
“It was very frightening wading through the flood as there were large branches being swept along on strong currents and gas bottles bobbing around like canoes,” Sue said.
An RAF Sea King helicopter was called after lifeboats failed to reach two caravans and five people were eventually winched to safety.
Peter Leech said: “There were four lifeboats helping the rescue effort as well as fire crews, police and a mountain rescue team. It is amazing that there were no casualties.”
A big clean up is underway and despite up to £400,000 worth of damage, site owner Stephen South said he is determined to reopen the site.