Prince William promises support for Ilminster flood victim

During a visit to Ilminster on Tuesday, October 6, the future King of England went to Sweet Surprise cafe, where he spoke to Ilminster Relief Group and met local resident Tina Groves.

Tina, aged 74, was severely impacted by flooding in her home nine years ago while watching diving on television, so, according to café owner Jane Morgan, “she thought the sound of running water was the diving.”

In response, Prince William said: “Oh no.”

Jane Morgan continued: “Yes, it was the water coming into her house.”

Prince William said: “Oh no. That takes surround sound to another level, Tina.”

Tina told the prince she lives alone and that: “I lost all of my ground floor [due to the flooding].”

Tina told the Prince how she was severely impacted by the flooding. (Image: Molly Kirk)

She said: “My guide dog was on her bed; she wouldn’t come off.”

In response, Prince William said: “That is the type of thing no one thinks about when you have difficulty seeing how a flooding event might affect you.”

She said: “When I went to let the firemen in, I thought it was my washing machine, and I called the plumber because it came in the kitchen first and then I went to the lavatory and the water was about halfway up my leg.”

He said: “No way. Could you tell what was happening? You didn’t think to yourself, ‘Have I left the bath running?’”

She said: “No. I thought ‘what’s happening’ because I didn’t realise it was coming in the back way, so I opened the door for Julian and then he went around to tell the firemen who were all next door.”

“So, I ended up with five burly firemen in my conservatory.

“They pumped it out, but it was very scary, and now every time it rains really hard, I get scared.”

Prince William said: “Do you really? Has that anxiety come back?

“Is there not a system we can implement?”

After which he reassured a very thankful Tina that he would look into it for her and see if there is any new technology for such situations.