A coroner has said questions need to be answered about the deaths of a couple whose car became stranded in a flooded Liverpool road.
Elaine and Philip Marco, who were 76 and 77, died after their Mercedes became submerged last Saturday. An inquest into the deaths was opened and adjourned on Friday by André Rebello, the senior coroner for Liverpool and Wirral.
During the short hearing at Liverpool coroner’s court, details were given about the incident on Queens Drive in the Mossley Hill area of the city.
The court heard that emergency services were called by members of the public at 9.22pm reporting a vehicle submerged in water on the road going under a railway bridge with people believed to be in the vehicle.
Police, fire and ambulance crews responded and firefighters located Elaine Marco. She was given first aid at the scene and transported to the Royal Liverpool university hospital where she was pronounced dead, the court heard.
Searches at the scene continued and the black Mercedes car and Philip Marco were found. He was also treated at the scene and taken to the same hospital where his death was confirmed.
The couple’s identities were confirmed by their sons, Joshua and Simon.
Rebello said: “This is a complex investigation. Clearly there are questions that will need to be answered with regard to the highway authority, the system of work, maintenance of the road, vigilance with regard to inclement weather.”
The coroner said liaison would be needed with United Utilities, the area’s water supplier, and Network Rail, responsible for the railway bridge over the road.
He said: “Inquiries will need to be made with regard to the history of this road and lessons learned from previous experience, particularly from residents of the area, and that will all take some time.
“It would be premature of me to identify any other interested parties whose actions or inactions might have caused or contributed to this incident. It’s very important we allow police to get on with their inquiries. If it appears there are matters that need to go into the criminal jurisdiction, then so be it.”
Rebello adjourned the inquest hearing until next year and asked the coroner’s staff to pass on his condolences to the Marco family. The hearing was told that Philip Marco was originally from London and his wife from Liverpool and both were retired caterers.
A statement from their family in the days after their death said: “We are devastated and heartbroken by the sudden loss of Elaine and Philip Marco. They were much loved parents to four children and 10 grandchildren. The family are arriving overseas from America and Australia to mourn their loss. They were due to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary next week and our only comfort is knowing that they were together to the very end.”
Friends said the couple’s catering business was popular in the local Jewish community of which they were part.
Rabbi Avremi Kievman, of the Chabad Lubavitch organisation, told ITV: “They were a very friendly couple, they were very kind and generous people. My wife and I knew them for 30 years; they were personal friends.
“They were very dedicated and devoted grandparents, even more so than usual. They were a quiet and humble couple. For many years they ran a catering business serving the community – they did weddings and barmitzvahs. It is a terrible loss that will leave a mark in the whole community.”
The couple were due to be buried on Friday. A further preliminary inquest hearing is scheduled for 27 February 2024.
The road where the incident took place will be closed for some time, Merseyside police have said.
