FLOOD TRAGEDY Liverpool flood deaths: Tributes to couple after they’re found dead when their car was trapped underwater in heavy rain

TRIBUTES have been paid to a couple after they were found dead when their car became trapped underwater in heavy rain.

Philip and Elaine Marco were travelling in their black Mercedes A180 in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, on Sunday night.

They tragically became submerged when driving under a railway bridge after a downpour of torrential rain.

Frantic passersby tried to reach both Philip and Marco but they sadly could not be saved.

They were taken to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead shortly after.

A close friend has today paid tribute to the elderly couple.

Posting on Facebook they said: "Terrible tragedy with the passing of our dear friends, Philip & Elaine Marco.

"May Hashem heal the torn hearts of their children and grandchildren.

"A huge loss to our community."

Locals told The Sun Online that the couple died in a notorious flooding blackspot.

Tony, a pensioner from the Mossley Hill area, said: "This has been going on for years now. They had to pull a woman out last month with special boats.

"It's a notorious blackspot. Nobody has ever bothered to address the problem of drainage.

"It's always been one of those things. And now we have this. Two deaths.

"It can get very deep down there. I am talking over six feet of flood water so its a death trap really.

"I wonder what they will do now."

Local woman Pat said: "It's so tragic but I just don't understand what has happened here.

"Everyone from around here knows that you can't drive down this section of road after heavy rain.

"And it had been pouring down Saturday night. They had to pull a woman out with dinghies just a few weeks ago.

"Surely there should be a warning system in place after heavy rain.

"Someone who is not local could easily drive through and get caught out."

Emergency services rushed to the scene around 9.20pm last night.

They were called to reports of two people trapped inside a submerged car before they recovered two bodies.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Dalton said last night: "Our thoughts go out to the family of the man and woman who sadly lost their lives in this tragic incident, despite the best efforts of passing members of the public, our officers and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services at the scene. 

"We are at the early stages of an ongoing investigation on Queens Drive to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident.

"Road closures remain in the area as we continue with this investigation and motorists are advised to avoid the road.

"We are continuing to appeal to anyone who was on Queens Drive, between North Mossley Hill Road and Dovedale Road at around 9.20pm last night and saw the accident, or who stopped to try help or anyone who had any dashcam footage from their car to come forward as soon as possible.

"Similarly, if you live in the area and have any doorbell or CCTV footage from last night please share this with us."

According to the Met Office, torrential rain was pouring down at over 32mm an hour near Mossley Hill last night.

Weather warnings for flooding are still in place covering parts of Merseyside due to the conditions.