A PENSIONER suffering from cancer died just hours after being evacuated from her home of more than 50-years because of flooding yesterday.

Ruth Borger, 85, had to be evacuated by fire crews and paramedics from the front room of the bungalow which was badly hit by the surge of water at about 4am the corner of The Grove and A41 Edgware Way.

The whole downstairs of the house was decimated by flood released by the burst main, including the front room where Mrs Borger had been being looked after by two carers on a hospital-style bed.

Her cousin, Phil Franks, 27, had moved in just three weeks ago to help look after her and the house in her final weeks.

The pub manager told the Times Series: “I heard the carers shouting for me and when I came down there was just water surging in and through the hallway and right through the house.

“We called the paramedics because the contaminated water had covered the oxygen mask Ruth was relying on and soaked everything. The force of the water was so strong we had to call in the fire brigade to help them get her out of here.

“Unfortunately she died a few hours later in hospital. It’s like her whole generation and life has been washed away on the night she died, it’s so sad.”

“She was a nice old lady, always very cheerful despite her health problems. She had been severely disabled for about 15 years and hadn’t really left the house in that time except to go to hospital.”

All the furniture, carpets and appliances in the downstairs of the house had to be stripped out and thrown away by Veolia water’s recovery team, who are on the scene helping residents today.

Mr Franks said the force and volume of water was so great it had also damaged his car, which is now unusable.

He added: “It’s just been a nightmare couple of days, losing Ruth and having this flooding are two big things to deal with and now we have to do both at once.

“I’m waiting for them to tell me whether or not I can stay here as I’m living upstairs, or whether I have to go to temporary accommodation.

“I need a new car as well so I’m hoping they will replace that as I need it to get to and from work.”