Overview

• A Chesterfield inquest recorded that 83-year-old Maureen Gilbert drowned in her home during Storm Babet after the River Rother burst its banks.
• Assistant coroner Matthew Kewley said there remains a risk to life at Tapton Terrace and confirmed he will file a prevention of future deaths report.
• Evidence to the court outlined that no formal defences protect the street, with a 2018 storage reservoir cited as the only significant step since severe flooding in 2007.
• A planned reinspection the morning after the initial rescue attempt did not occur because Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service’s control room systems went down, though the coroner said firefighters did all they reasonably and safely could.
• Paul Gilbert called for greater investment and long-term flood protection, including river dredging, while the fire service said it has upgraded systems and changed operational processes.