Scots couple swept away by flash floods in Majorca named

TRIBUTES have been paid to two elderly Britons killed when the taxi they were travelling in got caught up in raging flash floods on Majorca.

The couple, named locally as Tony and Delia Green from the south of Scotland, are understood to have died along with taxi driver Juan Sillero when their car was swept away by a torrent of water near the coastal resort of S’Illot.

Authorities said 10 people, three of them foreigners, died when torrential rain deluged the region around the town of Sant Llorenc, about 40 miles from the capital Palma.

Friend Emilio Dicerbo said everyone in Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, where the couple lived for more than 10 years, would be “devastated” by their deaths.

The 84-year-old retired ice cream merchant said: “They were a very friendly, lovely couple.

“Tony would always get out a bit to the shops most mornings

Tributes: Delia and Tony Green

and we would have a blether. He liked to go have a game of pool, he loved his wee bit of potted plants outside his front door — he did tend his plants, very neat and tidy.

“He was a (retired) publican and head teacher.”

He added: “Everyone will be devastated. Just the kind of characters they were — very friendly.”

He said the couple, who were aged in their 70s and originally from England, were visiting the Spanish island for a holiday.

Some parts of the island received up to 9in (23cm) of rain- fall in a matter of hours on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses described having minutes to find safety as the water levels rose, inundating houses and catching motorists off guard.

The floodwaters tore down trees, swept numerous cars and trucks into piles of twisted metal and buried streets under mud.

Mr Green and his wife were being driven to a hotel when the taxi was caught in the floodwaters, Diario de Mallorca reported.

Rescue workers reportedly found the car submerged and on its side at 2am local time on Wednesday.

Military divers found the couple’s bodies still inside, while Mr Sillero was later found lifeless nearby, the paper said.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of two British people following their deaths in Spain, and will do all we can to assist them at this deeply difficult time.

“Our staff remain in contact with the Spanish authorities who are responsible for responding to the floods, and are ready to assist any other British people who require our help.”