Senara: Kept saying 'Water, water'

Adrian Shute, Becky Eva and daughter Senara were trapped on top of a car about seven miles from Boscastle.

They were spotted huddled on the roof by helicopter winchman Clive Chapman - but he had to conjure up a way of rescuing 15-month-old Senara.

So he placed the toddler in his co-pilot's rucksack and hauled her up.

Mr Shute, 31, Becky, 22, and Senara were forced onto the roof of their four-wheel drive vehicle when the wave of water hit them on Monday.

The water suddenly came like a tidal wave Adrian Shute

The young family had driven to a neighbouring farm to warn them about the flood when the water came.

Mr Shute said: "We were only there about two minutes when the water suddenly came like a tidal wave."

Miss Eva said throughout the ordeal they were frightened but remained calm.

"Senara was fine. She kept saying 'water, water' and pointing to it and we kept her occupied by getting her to look at the sticks floating past.

"We just made sure we kept calm. And we kept Senara warm by wrapping Adrian's overalls around her. She hardly cried at all."

Neighbours rushed to help them and within an hour an RAF helicopter arrived from its base 30 miles away in St Mawgan, Cornwall.

Clive Chapman: Rucksack used as rescue seat

Master Mr Chapman, of RAF St Mawgan-based 203 Squadron, said: "We don't have any specific equipment to rescue babies so we made use the co-pilot's rucksack.

"We put the child inside the rucksack and connected the rucksack handles through the winch hook with me holding onto the baby as well all the way to the door.

"When we got to the aircraft I passed the baby indoors and we carried on the rescue."

They were treated for shock and mild hypothermia at the medical centre at RAF St Mawgan.

Dozens of stranded families were saved by helicopters in what was one of the biggest combined incidents the RAF and Royal Navy had dealt with for many years.

In all, seven helicopters were involved in the massive rescue operation, including crews from RAF St Mawgan and RNAS Culdrose.