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Twin recalls flood deaths horror | Twin recalls flood deaths horror |
(10 minutes later) | |
A twin has described the moment her sister and mother were swept to their deaths by flash floods in Spain. | A twin has described the moment her sister and mother were swept to their deaths by flash floods in Spain. |
Lorraine Cullen, 47, and daughter Lauren, 14, were killed as they tried to cross a swollen river to reach their home near Valencia on 9 October. | Lorraine Cullen, 47, and daughter Lauren, 14, were killed as they tried to cross a swollen river to reach their home near Valencia on 9 October. |
Lauren's twin Samantha, from Brighton, said she managed to survive by holding on to weeds, while her Spanish friend Gemma saved herself by grabbing a rock. | Lauren's twin Samantha, from Brighton, said she managed to survive by holding on to weeds, while her Spanish friend Gemma saved herself by grabbing a rock. |
Samantha said the memory of that day kept going through her mind. | Samantha said the memory of that day kept going through her mind. |
Mrs Cullen and Lauren were carried off by the current in the River Clariano in L'Olleria. | Mrs Cullen and Lauren were carried off by the current in the River Clariano in L'Olleria. |
Their bodies were found early the next day, about a mile downriver. | Their bodies were found early the next day, about a mile downriver. |
'All hurting' | |
Samantha said: "All I remember is when we fell and mum tried to grab on to loads of stuff. That keeps playing at the back of my mind. | Samantha said: "All I remember is when we fell and mum tried to grab on to loads of stuff. That keeps playing at the back of my mind. |
"As I went [over] there were weeds sticking into the ground so I managed to grab on to them and stay on them. | "As I went [over] there were weeds sticking into the ground so I managed to grab on to them and stay on them. |
"My friend smacked against a rock so she managed to grab hold of it and stay on it." | "My friend smacked against a rock so she managed to grab hold of it and stay on it." |
Mr and Mrs Cullen had been married for 25 years | Mr and Mrs Cullen had been married for 25 years |
The pair spent two hours climbing to the top of a hill, where they raised the alarm. | |
The deaths came just after the Cullens' 25th wedding anniversary. | The deaths came just after the Cullens' 25th wedding anniversary. |
Mark Cullen, 49, and his sons Daniel, 22, and Darren, 19, said Samantha had felt the loss the most. | Mark Cullen, 49, and his sons Daniel, 22, and Darren, 19, said Samantha had felt the loss the most. |
Mr Cullen said: "I loved her [Lorraine] to death. We've done everything together. You'd never have thought suddenly they'd get swept away like that. | Mr Cullen said: "I loved her [Lorraine] to death. We've done everything together. You'd never have thought suddenly they'd get swept away like that. |
"Me and the boys have had a chat. We've got to do what's right for Sam. | "Me and the boys have had a chat. We've got to do what's right for Sam. |
"Though we are all hurting, for her it's like her [right] arm has gone." | "Though we are all hurting, for her it's like her [right] arm has gone." |
Mr Cullen said the fact that Sam is left handed and Lauren was right handed meant their family had always been perfectly balanced. | Mr Cullen said the fact that Sam is left handed and Lauren was right handed meant their family had always been perfectly balanced. |
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