A Love Story Cut Short by Tragic Flooding
A devoted couple, just days away from celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary, died together when their car became submerged in a sudden flash flood in Liverpool, an inquest has heard.
Philip Marco, 77, and his wife Elaine, 76, drowned when their black Mercedes CLA 180 was trapped under a railway bridge on Queens Drive in Mossley Hill on the evening of August 26, 2023.
An Unbreakable Bond
Their daughter, Sarah, 49, fought back tears as she described the profound connection between her parents. She had deliberately arranged her own wedding to be on the same date as theirs, August 31, a day that is now tragically marred.
She revealed the depth of her father's devotion, telling the inquest he wrote to her mother every single day for the 144 days leading up to their wedding. One surviving message read: ‘Good morning my precious, wonderful, gorgeous, darling little rosebud. I hope you are not annoyed at me for phoning you, only I miss you and love you so very very much.’
Speaking about the shared wedding date, Sarah said: ‘Tragically this date is now marred. On the anniversary of their wedding, my parents were being prepared for dual autopsies and burial. A heartbreaking contrast to the same day 54 years earlier, when my mother was having her hair and makeup done for the happiest day of her life.’
The Night of the Tragedy
The inquest learned the couple were returning home from celebrating their son Joshua’s 40th birthday. Their other son, Simon, stated it was a route they had driven ‘a thousand times before’.
Unaware of the depth of the water, Mr Marco drove into the flooded section of road beneath the bridge. Passersby immediately alerted emergency services. Police, fire crews, and paramedics performed desperate rescue attempts and CPR at the scene.
Elaine Marco, a retired caterer, was the first to be pulled from the car at 9.20pm and taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10.50pm. The cause of her death was confirmed as drowning.
Her husband Philip, also a retired caterer, was found at 10.47pm and taken to the same hospital. He was declared dead at 11.20pm, with his death attributed to drowning and ischaemic heart disease.
The hearing was told the couple's car made an automatic "SOS call" via its eCall system at around 9.20pm.
A Family's Profound Loss
Sarah Marco described the devastating impact of the loss on the family. ‘The loss we have experienced is profound and continues to affect each and every one of us in ways that we can scarcely express,’ she said.
‘Their love story was rare. They spent every waking minute together always had in hand. Together they created a home filled with love, warmth and emotional support. They cheered us on through every high and held us at every low. The loss of my parents has shattered my world.’
She added, ‘There are moments when I physically struggled to breathe, my heart aches constantly. I know what it is to be truly heartbroken. We all feel robbed and carry the weight of this loss every single day. Absence is a wound that does not heal.’
The full inquest, which is expected to last at least a week, will examine the broader circumstances of the tragedy. Representatives from Liverpool City Council, United Utilities, and Network Rail are due to attend as the hearing investigates potential failings by authorities.
