Original story: The Times online
Torrential rain swept across Britain yesterday bringing flooding, tornados and death on the wettest June day on record.
A 28-year-old man died trying to unblock a drain in Hull despite the efforts of emergency services. In Sheffield, a 13-year-old boy who was swept into a swollen river near a playground was feared dead and a 68-year-old man died while attempting to cross a flooded road.
Hundreds of shoppers and office workers were last night stranded by rising waters in the Meadow Hall area of Sheffield as rescue helicopters were airlifting to safety those in most need. One of those trapped described cars floating down the road outside as floodwaters swelled by four feet in a matter of minutes.
In Humberside, hundreds of motorists were marooned on the main route into Hull as floodwater and stranded cars blocked the A63 into the city. Motorists and lorry drivers were standing in the road and sitting on their vehicles in the five-mile tailback in the South Cave area.
