A GUERNSEY family is relieved to be safe and well after visiting Boscastle just a day before the floods hit. Adrian and Rachel Bott from St Saviour’s and their two children went to the north Cornwall village on Sunday.

They even sat in the car park from which 30 vehicles were washed away by the torrent of water.

‘We were horrified to see what happened,’ said Mrs Bott.

‘It was quite frightening. I saw a family on television. They had split up before the floods hit and then got separated in the chaos. Fortunately, they were reunited the next day. But all I could think about was that it could have been us because we also split up when we were there.’

The Botts went on a one-week holiday to the Cornish village of Camelford and were staying in the Juliot’s Well holiday park, less than five miles from Boscastle.

They arrived on Wednesday 11 August and spent a few days visiting local villages, including Padstow, and finding entertainment for son Sammy, 6, and daughter, Eve, 2.

On the Sunday they went to Tintagel, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur. After lunch they went to Boscastle and stopped in the now-infamous car park.

‘I went for a walk with Sammy and Adrian stayed in the car with Eve because she was tired. We went for a 20-minute walk and then we came back. Then Adrian and Sammy went for a walk and I waited with Eve,’ said Mrs Bott.

‘It was swarming with tourists. It was a nice day. Throughout the holiday it was mainly nice, although we had previously had some downpours, like when we were in the fishing village of Charleston,’ said Mr Bott.

On Monday they went to Plymouth and were oblivious to the drama unfolding close to where they were staying.

‘We had no idea it was raining so much. As we drove back we could see some bad weather and then as we got closer to Camelford, we saw roads closed. In Camelford itself all the sandbags were out – there was a strange sense in the air because the river was close to bursting,’ he added.

Only when they got back and switched on the television did they realise the extent of the floods.

More than 60mm (2in) had fallen in two hours. A torrent of water and mud had cascaded through Boscastle and 50 vehicles from the car park had been trapped, with 30 of them swept away. Camelford and Tintagel were battling against the elements.

‘There was a small river near where we were staying and it was almost overflowing – the day before, you could have paddled in it. We were going to go caving the next day but decided against it because of the weather,’ said Mr Bott.

They have not been put off by the events.

‘I’d go back to Cornwall again despite the experience because it is a beautiful place and things like that are very rare,’ added Mrs Bott.