A mother shared the heartbreaking story of returning from a vacation only to find their house in ruins due to flooding, resulting in £158,000 worth of damage. Liliana De Klerk, 41, along with her husband Jean and their two children, Charlize and Killian, had been in South Africa for three weeks visiting family. Upon their return to their five-bedroom home in Blackburn, West Lothian, they were shocked to find every room severely damaged by a burst frozen pipe in the attic. This unforeseen disaster had not shown any signs before their departure earlier in the year.
Liliana, a senior recruiter in a pharmaceutical company, described the heart-wrenching moment of opening the door to their devastated home, with flooring and ceilings destroyed beyond recognition. The family, who takes pride in maintaining their home meticulously, faced the harsh reality that all flooring and walls needed to be stripped out, leaving only the bare structure of the house. The estimated cost of repairs, covered by insurance, amounted to £158,000.
The family now faces a long wait, as repairs could take up to a year to complete. They are currently residing in a small hotel room, awaiting approval of their contents insurance claim. Liliana expressed her devastation at losing all their belongings, including cherished memories, as the house needs to be completely rebuilt from the ground up.
Tragically, the already distressed family had experienced another blow when their four-year-old daughter Charlize suffered a broken femur while on holiday. She underwent surgery in South Africa and faces a long road to recovery.
Amidst the challenges, the family has found solace in the support of friends and the community. Donations and assistance poured in, with a GoFundMe page set up to help with essential needs and replacements. The De Klerk family, without relatives in Britain, remains grateful for the overwhelming generosity shown during this difficult time.