Massive 8ft garden wall collapse leaves 82-year-old with staggering bill

James Terry's garden wall has been completely obliterated

James Terry’s backyard wall has been utterly obliterated (Picture: SWNS)

James Terry, 82, mentioned that he heard a thunderous crash within the early hours of the morning. James, of Greenock, Scotland, peered out of his window to see his complete again backyard beneath two toes of water.

His eight-foot brick backyard wall was shattered on the bottom. A close-by culvert had change into blocked, inflicting water to pool within the space and overflow onto James’s avenue and into his backyard.

After contacting Inverclyde Council the next day, representatives from constructing management got here to evaluate the harm.

A culvert had been blocked causing water overflow

A culvert had been blocked inflicting water overflow (Picture: SWNS)

Now James is dealing with a price of £50 per sq. metre to exchange the wall – hundreds in complete. He’s unable to do the work himself after present process a current operation on his hand.

“I regarded out of the again window, and I could not see my backyard. There was solely water, and I could not see my wall,” mentioned James.

“It got here down in a single and it is a nine-inch thick wall, eight-feet excessive and 40-feet lengthy. It was stable.” “I might see a playhouse behind my backyard and was confused – that is as a result of it belongs to a home in Carmichael Avenue.”

“It is unbelievable, I bought the fright of my life.” James, who has lived within the residence for 40 years, phoned a buddy to assist him take care of the flooding on September 20.

The buddy grabbed a pair of welly boots and managed to open a aspect gate to permit the flood water to pour out of the backyard.

“The water was above the highest of his boots, that is how excessive it was. It was like a torrent flowing out,” mentioned James. The flooding not solely broken his backyard wall, but additionally flooded a utility room and shed, with harm precipitated to flooring and carpets.

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Sadly, now that the flooding has stopped, James could also be left with a hefty invoice to restore the harm. He hopes that his insurance coverage coverage will cowl the price of the repairs, however he must make a declare.

“It would value some huge cash to exchange the wall, say £50 per sq. metre,” James mentioned. “The toughest half shall be to get all of the garbage away. We’ll want a skip for that and it’ll value hundreds.”

The blocked drain that precipitated the flood has now been cleared. A spokesperson from Inverclyde Council mentioned, “We be aware {that a} current climate occasion resulted within the over topping of the Jardine Burn culvert at South Avenue and we’re conscious of harm throughout the property boundary.”