Missing – presumed dead

Monday 27th April 2009, 2:30PM BST.

The taxi in which Ryan Martel and his sister, Frankie Chappel were travelling was swamped by a torrent of water after a flash flood struck the minor road on which they were travelling near Zennor in Cornwall. (Picture by South West News Service)

A SEARCH will resume today for a Guernsey brother and sister who are missing, presumed dead after their car was swept away in floods in Cornwall.

Former Les Beaucamps School pupil Ryan Martel, 26, and his sister, 17-year-old Frankie Chappel, were travelling in the back of a green Volvo saloon early on Saturday.

Mr Martel was described by friend James Harrison as a talented film-maker with a particular passion for 3D films.

It is not clear how the car ended up in a river swollen by torrential rain, but it is believed that either the narrow road on the B3306 had collapsed near the village of Zennor, between St Just and St Ives, or the weight of the car had made it do so.

There were two other people in the car. Front seat passenger Oliver Gardner, 20, escaped and raised the alarm.

The vehicle was found submerged 100 yards downstream from where it entered the water.

The body of a 20-year-old man, identified as the driver, Luke Mackin, was found further downstream.

Late yesterday afternoon, search teams found a body buried beneath silt on the beach at Porthglaze cove. The identity has not been revealed.

To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.

View more: Deaths news, Flooding news, Weather news.

1
Amy

April 27, 2009 at 3:34 pm

Frankie our thoughts are with yours and Ryan’s mum, dad and family.
Can’t believe this has happend, it only feels like yesterday that we were playing in the playground at school. Your beautiful, caring, loving and such an amazing friend to everyone that knew you. Such a chatty, fun, bubbly girl…..you never missed a party and made one if there wasnt one!
Everyone in Guernsey is thinking about you, you will be missed so much! We have so many memories of you and they will never be forgotten, you are always in our hearts and thoughts and not a day will pass when your not.
Your so strong and everyone is praying that you will be ok, fight like you always would have..its only you left please turn up.
We love you so much
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Report abuse
2
melc

April 27, 2009 at 7:07 pm

Very Very sad

Report abuse
3
sophie walden

April 28, 2009 at 11:42 am

frankie was one of the most wonderful people you could ever meet she was always smiley and always made you smile. she was caring, kind, loving and honestly just one of the greatest people ive ever been lucky enough to know.
this truely was one of the most devestating tragadies and my thoughts are with sally and the rest of ryan and frankies family. such lovely people didnt deserve this and i hope desparately they can find frankie soon so she can at least be laid to rest properly.
RIP frankie and ryan you will be missed by many and you remain in all our hearts
x

Report abuse
4
Toby

April 28, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Can’t believe this has happened, my thoughts go to Sally, who lost her dad only a month ago, and now both her kids too…
Seemed like not long ago me and my sister Charlotte were around her house playing 40/40 :(

Report abuse