A Chichester couple narrowly escape death after freak accident
A Chichester couple are lucky to be alive after a huge block of ice fell from the sky and smashed through their flat this morning (Thursday, July 22) - just ten feet away from where they were sleeping.
Vince and Brenda Foote were shaken after the freak accident as the ice tore through their roof and into a spare room, spraying debris 30 feet around their home at Summersdale Court, The Drive.
It is believed the ice block, which created a 3ft by 3ft hole, came from an aeroplane. Experts say this kind of incident only happens around 20 times a year in the UK.
"We're shaken because our grandchildren stay in our spare room," said Mr Foote.
"It was just two weeks and we had our best friend staying in the same room.
"We must not look at the what ifs, but it does make you feel like that. We're so fearful. If it had landed 10ft away, that's where our bedroom is and we wouldn't be talking to you right now. The force of the ice must have been phenomenal."
Mr Foote, aged 66, woke up at 1.30am this morning after he heard a bang. He admitted he first thought it was some thunder or a picture falling down.
He added: "I went to the spare room and I couldn't open the door properly. There was debris everywhere and chunks of ice. I thought to myself 'what on earth is this?'. I was half asleep.
"When I got in the room I saw the roof damage. Ice was all over the room, on the bed and on the floor. I was just standing there saying 'what the hell has happened?'."
Amazingly no one was injured in the incident. Mr Foote said the fire service and his insurance company had been 'superb' throughout the ordeal.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service temporarily covered the whole and Mr and Mrs Foote have been trying to catch the recent rainfall coming through using buckets.
Sarah Smith, spokeswoman for the fire service said: "The couple had a narrow escape and we believe the ice came from an aeroplane."
She added: "It is very lucky nobody got hurt."
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Weather for Bognor
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South west
