A mum and daughter say they’re lucky to be alive after their car was washed off a 30ft cliff by a powerful landslide.
Emergency services have now confirmed that ten people have been airlifted to safety from the stretch on the A83 in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Kiera Smith and mum Fiona were travelling on the road on Saturday morning when water flooded towards their car, reports The Daily Record.
A passing police officer attempted to help the duo but could only scream “run” when muddy debris came hurtling towards them – the aftermath being captured in shocking images.
The flood swept their Vauxhall Zafira over the cliff edge and down into a ravine.
The two women ran for safety and were rescued by a lorry driver who managed to turn the vehicle round seconds before a third landslide covered the roadway.
Kiera, 19, from Campbeltown, said: “After the car was washed away, we were just numb and in shock. When it properly hit us, we were just crying and couldn’t stop.
“The actions of that police officer most likely saved our lives. If she hadn’t screamed for us to run, I don’t know what would have happened. We’d probably have been taken over the edge with the car. It all just happened so quickly.”
Kiera and mum Fiona, 44, had been attempting to get to Ayr, but when they spotted rocks on the roadway the car became stuck in a large puddle of water.
The police officer, who had been driving behind them, came to help get the car moving. Seconds later, a wave of mud, water and debris overwhelmed the vehicle.
Keira added: “The police officer came over to try to help us move the car together. She got in, tried moving it, but within two seconds she jumped out of the car and screamed ‘run’. I think it’s the fastest my mum and I have ever run in our lives.
“We were running down the road screaming to all the other cars – there were about seven of them – telling them to go back. The second landslide hadn’t even all made its way down and our car was just gone, down into the ravine.
“It was like being in a wave pool. The landslide basically did that to our car. It looked effortless – like it was just pushed down into the ravine. The water was obviously washing the debris down and into the road.
“A rock shot past me at one point and very nearly hit me as I was running. There was a Tesco lorry driver there who was trying to make a delivery. He ended up having to abandon his load and he offered to take us to safety before he even thought of himself so we’re very grateful to him.
“Just as the lorry driver managed to turn round, a third landslide came down and hit exactly where we had just been. We’d literally moved just in time.”
She added that a helicopter is picking people up that are trapped between landslides. Ten people have been airlifted to safety after becoming trapped between landslides in Argyll and Bute.
HM Coastguard has confirmed that a search and rescue helicopter was sent to airlift 10 people trapped in the area.
A spokesperson said: “The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick airlifted 10 people cut off by a landslide at the junction of the A815 and A83 near Inveraray on 7 October. The alarm was raised at about 9.15am.
“The people were flown safe and well to Inveraray and met by the Inveraray Coastguard Rescue Team and provided with shelter.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “We were called to reports of multiple landslides on the A83 and A815 on the morning of Saturday, 7 October, 2023.
“A number of vehicles were stuck between the landslides. Emergency services, including HM Coastguard, attended and ten people were airlifted to safety. There were no reports of injuries. The roads remain closed and drivers are urged to avoid travel in the area.”
Police in Argyll and Bute are now warning motorists to stay home.
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