‘It was like a Hollywood movie': Couple caught up in dramatic Marble Arch cave flooding
Starting off dry that afternoon before their scheduled 4.15pm tour of the landmark, the couple didn't expect there to be sudden flash floods underground.
Their trip came as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain for Northern Ireland. Flooding has since impacted a number of locations across the Fermanagh area.
Speaking after the incident, noting the group of 17 were given a refund and free Marble Arch Cave memorabilia, Alistair explained that guides taking them through the network 'kept everyone calm and no one felt in danger'.
'We were out for a Sunday drive we unexpectedly decided to go the Marble Arch Caves,' said Alistair.
'We were on the 4.15pm tour, it was dry when we arrived. We were going into the caves, and they gave us the safety briefings, that if power goes out the generators will kick in.
'We were down in the caves, then the power went out, then the generators kicked in. Fifteen minutes later, the power went out again.
'Water started pouring out from the holes of the caves, staff above radioed down to say that there was rain in the surface.
'We didn't think it was anything too scary of course. We went into the caves and there was a big cascade of water near the exit walkway.
'We took a few minutes to figure out if we should just go back or go through the waterfall.
'They brought umbrellas out to help us not to get too soaked. But the guys were fantastic, they got us through, there was a heavy flow of water, they jumped to action quickly.
'They kept everyone calm and they got us dried off and hoodies to get changed into afterwards, there was torrential rain when we got out.
'They brought us all together and briefed us, the manager said that in 20 years, she has never seen anything like this.
'They are normally watching out for rain, in case they need to stop tours. It was actually quite the exciting adventure, it was like something out of a Hollywood movie.
'We never thought we would be in any danger, though it was pretty dramatic.
'It was all a combination of the cold and wet, and the excitement, there was a few laughs and giggles on the way.
'We got refunded straight away, and free goodies and clothes to change into. We are all fitted with Marble Arch gear now.
'There was 17 in one group, the tour guide kept calm all the way through it.
'We are going to go back again, we haven't been put off by it – it was an unusual situation.'
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