IT COULD so easily have ended in tragedy, with a driver coming perilously close to being swept into the Humber at a beauty spot.
Properties were damaged and possessions were destroyed, but no lives were lost when East Yorkshire was hit by what has been described as the biggest tidal surge in 60 years.
Emergency services, council officials and neighbours worked flat-out throughout Thursday and into yesterday to ensure residents were safe.
In perhaps the most serious case, members of Humber Rescue – whose own boathouse flooded – pushed a car to safety after it was floated by the surge at Hessle Foreshore.
Mandy Ramsden, who was part of the rescue team, said: "The water on the road was about waist deep when we saw the car floating.
"The engine was keeping the front of the car down, but the water turned the car and it was heading towards the river. His life was in danger.
"Four of us grabbed hold of a wheel arch and pushed the car back against the fence. We were then able to open the door and get the man out and we tied the car to a lamppost.
"The water at this point was up to his thighs."
Hessle town councillor Phil Withers, who watched the rescue effort, said: "The car must have been about a couple of metres from floating off into the Humber before the Humber Rescue crew grabbed it and pushed it away.
"They did a tremendous job, risking their own lives. If it had floated much further, he would have been a goner."
Cllr Withers praised the "tremendous" community spirit of people in Hessle.
"One moment that will live with me is the site of a double-decker EYMS bus coming through the water to rescue people at the Country Park Inn," he said. "It looked like it was sailing on the Humber."
Up to 60 properties were flooded in the town, most of them along the foreshore.
Among those assessing the damage yesterday as the clean-up operation got under way was Jayne Stamp, a veteran of the 2007 floods when she lived in Wold Road, Hull.
"I used cushions and whatever else I could find to stop the water coming in, but it didn't work – the water came through the letterbox," she said.
"When the water suddenly started coming in, I was trying to outrun it and unplug all the electrical goods, but everything was ruined. My washing machine was smoking."
Meanwhile, a few miles east at Victoria Dock, a group of residents reflected on a narrow escape.
When dawn broke, a line of seaweed, mixed with debris from the Humber, could be seen just 6ft from homes.
Giant waves, caused by a spring tide and 90mph gusts, made easy work of flood defences along the river front.
Verity Clarkson and her fiancé Nick Adams, of Harbour Way, were alerted by a neighbour as water levels rose.
Miss Clarkson, 26, said: "One of our neighbours came from walking their dog and knocked on doors, telling people water was rising.
"It was very frightening. With each wave, the water seemed to move a foot closer to homes.
"We all came out with brooms and tried our best to sweep water away.
"It was a great show of community spirit."
Ron Guy, 46, of Axholme Close, said: "I've lived here 14 years and I've seen water splash over the wall but never like this.
"I thought it was exaggerated at first, but then I saw the water coming over. It got very close."
Rob Havell, 36, of Ha'penny Bridge Way, said: "It was surreal, standing on the front and realising you were standing on ground lower than sea level, with just a wall holding all that water back.
"I thought there was a real possibility homes would be flooded."
Derek Wade, 48, of Pilots Way, said water was "shin deep" along paths.
"Fortunately it was not going into people's houses," he said. "In 90 minutes, the water had gone."
Closer inland, dinghies were used to collect vulnerable residents from Hanover Housing.
They were taken to the Mercure Royal Hotel Hull and Holiday Inn Express in Ferensway, city centre.
Hull Mercure manager Luc Perquin said: "We lost power at the hotel about 7.15pm, which caused us a number of problems, but I was approached by a police officer who told me they needed to evacuate Hanover Court and asked me if we would be able to take in the residents and offer them a cup of tea or something. We were just glad to be able to help."
Having no electric, Mr Perquin unplugged the Christmas tree at Paragon Station, which backs on to the hotel, and used the power to plug in a spare kettle and make cups of tea and coffee for the elderly residents.
Blankets, pillows and dressing gowns were also supplied.
Mr Perquin said: "The great thing about Hull is that, when push comes to shove, everyone comes together, and that clearly happened last night. There were people in their pyjamas and with wet trousers from the flood water."
Sue Hickson-Marsay, of Hornsea Inshore Rescue, said crews deployed to Paull and Hull city centre.
She said: "We had to give vulnerable people oxygen – we are also first responders, and take some people to Hull Royal Infirmary because of the stress.
"It was so sad to see the homes flooding, especially so near Christmas."
Hull City Council's portfolio holder for emergency planning, Councillor John Hewitt, said: "The priority now is to get people back to some normality. There is still lots of work to do.
"Our staff are going around the worst-hit areas, knocking on doors to see what people require and how we can help.
"Our sweepers are also on the A63 to clear away any debris.
"There is a high tide tonight but we don't expect it to overtop the sea defences. However, we ask people to remain vigilant and keep an eye on their neighbours."
Efforts are being focussed on a model to improve flood defences, said Cllr Hewitt.
"We are working on a model to protect us from a one in 200-year flooding event," he said. "We are now just trying to sort out the costings.
"But what happened on Thursday night has shown how important this is.
"After 2007, we put in place a Gold Command system, which worked really well the other night.
"All the agencies worked incredibly well together and our staff were fantastic."
