A couple who died after their car drove through a flooded road in Liverpool were due to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary next week, their family has said.
Elaine and Philip Marco, aged 75 and 77, were discovered inside a submerged black Mercedes Class 180 on Queens Drive between North Mossley Hill Road and Dovedale Road on Saturday evening.
Emergency services were called after a report at about 9.20pm on Saturday concerning the safety of two people in the Mossley Hill area of Liverpool. The couple were discovered in the car and taken to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
A statement from their family said: “We are devastated and heartbroken by the sudden loss of Elaine and Philip Marco. They were much loved parents to four children and 10 grandchildren. The family are arriving overseas from America and Australia to mourn their loss.
“They were due to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary next week and our only comfort is knowing that they were together to the very end.”
The couple were well known in their community as some of the last Jewish caterers in Liverpool.
Rabbi Avremi Kievman, of the Chabad Lubavitch organisation, told ITV: “They were a very friendly couple, they were very kind and generous people. My wife and I knew them for 30 years; they were personal friends.
“They were very dedicated and devoted grandparents, even more so than usual. They were a quiet and humble couple. For many years they ran a catering business serving the community – they did weddings and bar mitzvahs.
“It is a terrible loss that will leave a mark in the whole community.”
In a statement, Merseyside police said: “Police patrols assisted Merseyside fire and rescue services at the scene in finding the body of a man and woman. Both were taken to hospital where they were sadly pronounced deceased.
“The next of kin of the man and woman have now been informed and formal identification has been made.”
A file has been passed to the area coroner for Liverpool, who has asked Merseyside police to further investigate the incident.
DCI Mike Dalton said: “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.”
Merseyside police said they were continuing to investigate the deaths and that inquiries remained ongoing.
Liverpool city council said on Monday morning that the road was expected to remain closed for the time being.
“This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with those involved and their families,” a spokesperson said. “Council officers from highways and city watch supported the emergency services in responding. The road is expected to remain closed for some time while an investigation takes place, and motorists are asked to continue to avoid the area.”
