Ferocious waves at Vazon poured over the wall and deluged the Mechems’ home at Rue Des Goddards. (Picture by reader John Bate, 0548854)
A CASTEL home was completely destroyed by seawater flooding the property during Monday’s storm. The bungalow is the first on the right when turning into Rue des Goddards from the Vazon coast road.
Residents, father and son Colin and Andy Mechem, were powerless to stop the torrent of water that engulfed the property.‘It was straight after the high tide on Monday morning that we began to realise we had a problem,’ said Mr Mechem senior.
‘It started as a trickle and then just poured in. All I could do was sit and watch,’ he said.
Mr Mechem said he telephoned his employer to say he wouldn’t be going in to work.
‘My boss said that he could hear water splashing about and asked if I was at the beach.
‘I told him, “No I’m in the kitchen,” he said.
Mr Mechem said that the morning’s flood had been bad enough but the evening’s high tide was the killer.
‘The water was a metre high and we couldn’t do anything about it.’
Mr Mechem’s son, Andy, 34, said he had only just finished decorating and refurnishing his bedroom.
‘The lot was destroyed, but I did manage to salvage some of my racing photographs.’
Andy is a keen motorbike racer and he said the seawater had destroyed his £5,000 road bike.
‘I had only just finished getting it roadworthy the night before and I’m gutted,’ he said.
‘I live for my bikes, the house is secondary as far as I’m concerned, but my Mum won’t like me saying that.’
The Mechems face months of rebuilding work.
Contractor Core Construction had started the clearing of the site.
Builder Rob Avery said that he couldn’t believe the scene when he turned up.
‘The garden and house were knee deep in water when I got there.
‘It was a real mess,’ he said.
Colin Mechem said the insurers had acted quickly on the matter.
The men are living in alternative accommodation while the work takes place.
Article posted on 13th March, 2008 - 2.29pm
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