A couple on holiday in Wales didn't realise they had left their car in a flood hotspot when they parked up overnight. Nurse Chloe Knaepel and husband Jason were celebrating her 32nd birthday when they found themselves stranded in the Conwy Valley.
The couple had climbed Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), toured Conwy Castle and were set for one final night in Llanrwst before returning home to Cambridgeshire. As their Airbnb lacked parking spaces, their host suggested they use the free Gwydyr car park across the River Conwy near the town’s bowling club.
“When we first arrived in Llanwrst, the river was so low there was a couple walking along the riverbed at the side,” Chloe told North Wales Live. On Sunday we returned to Llanrwst at about 4pm and although the weather was changing, we didn’t think anything of it. But the next morning, at 7am, we looked out from our window and saw that everywhere was flooded."
After rushing down, the pair found their Seat Leon was submerged to its windows. Chole said: "The water had forced the boot open, so it must have been running with some force. We were in a state of shock and utter disbelief about what to do next.”
The couple were told by their insurers that nothing could be done until water had receded below the car’s exhaust pipe. They have no questioned why there were no signs at a known flood hotspot warning the car park was liable to flooding.
With snowmelt still cascading down from the mountains, and more rain in the forecast, the couple feared being stuck in Llanrwst for days. Looking for a bit of local knowledge, Chloe turned to Facebook’s Llanrwst Flood Action Group – and was inundated with offers of help.
One came from North Wales Recovery, based in Llandudno Junction. “They were wonderful,” she said. “I don’t know how they did it, but they put on dry suits and managed to pull it out.
“One told me they’d retrieved a campervan from the same car park last year. The driver had gone to sleep in the van only to be awoken by water pouring in – he had to swim to safety!”
On Tuesday (March 14), they finally made it back to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in a hire car – a day later than planned but glad to be home. As theirs had been the only vehicle in Gwydyr car park on Sunday night, they’ve been wondering if flood warnings are adequate for visitors with no knowledge of the area.
Locals agreed. “It’s odd that the Airbnb owners did not warn you of the risk,” a resident told Chloe on Facebook. “The torrential rain and all the snow in the hills should have meant something to them.”
Alerted to the couple’s plight, Llanrwst deputy mayor Mostyn Jones has relayed a request for a “car park liable to flooding” sign to local county councillors. “It’s a Conwy county car park, so it would be up to them whether or not to have a sign,” he said.
Despite their soggy adventures, Jason and Chloe loved North Wales and are determined to return soon. As their Airbnb overlooked the famous Tu Hwnt I’r Bont Tearooms, they are planning a visit later this year.
“We weren’t able to visit this time as the tearooms doesn’t reopen until Mother’s Day,” said Chloe. “But we have promised the owners we will be back this summer.
“Everyone was so kind to us. We had lots of offers of places to stay should we have needed it. And Llanrwst is such a beautiful place!”
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