Terrifying CCTV shows moment huge wave smashes through UK arcade amid heavy rain
A holiday park owner has shared shocking footage of an enormous wave smashing through his arcade in a warning to other Brits, as the UK is set to be battered by heavy rain this week.
Rob Braddick revealed a harrowing CCTV clip showing water crashing through his amusement arcade in 2014, blasting through the windows and tearing the door off in its wake.
The huge wave caused £40,000 in damage when it ripped through Ho!Barts Family Entertainment Centre in Devon, and took out the glass-panelled entrance door and its protective boardings.
Sharing the scary footage, Rob urged others to "board up what you've got", as the Met Office issued yellow weather warnings for heavy rain.
The water gushed through the arcade (Kennedy News & Media)Terrifying surveillance footage from the 2014 incident caught the "immensely powerful" surge launching a heavy claw crane game away from the wall and engulfing a kids' rocking machine.
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Posting the clip to Facebook, the businessman wrote: "Blimey. That must have been some wave and the doors were boarded over outside. Nine years ago tonight."
One shocked commenter responded: "Holy moly, that must've been one hell of a wave to have done that. Winter storms are powerful things."
Another added: "What a wild night that was. So much damage. Amazing how well it was all mended again. Quite a challenge for all concerned!"
Rob Braddick shared the CCTV clip showing the huge deluge of water crash through his windows and tear the door off (Kennedy News & Media)Rob, whose family owned the arcade since 1992, was relieved to find that no customers were in the way of the dangerous wave, which flooded the floor surrounding the arcade's electrical equipment in a matter of seconds.
Recalling the dramatic incident, he said: "We knew that corner was vulnerable, so we boarded it up for the night. But the wave just came right through and pushed the doors and window right in.
"We were still open and looking at the storm, but just around the corner from where it happened. We just missed it. We were in the right place at the right time.
The huge wave created £40,000 of damage (Kennedy News & Media)"We heard a shudder and a lot of smashing glass. We could see the water on the carpet, so we ran around hoping there was nobody standing in that area. It was really dangerous."
The Braddicks leisure owner was forced to throw away and replace water-damaged machines and drenched carpets as part of a mammoth insurance claim.
He also worked quickly to brick up the exposed entrance to avoid falling victim to the merciless winter weather again.
Rob added: "It was all hands on deck to get it cleaned up, but we had to stand back to make sure there weren't any waves coming up behind it.
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Luckily, Rob was able to repair the arcade (Kennedy News & Media)"The power of these waves is immense. It's scary. It takes three or four people to lift those machines but the wave did it easily.
"We got rid of the door and the window within about a fortnight because we definitely didn't want it happening again."
The Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings for heavy rain tomorrow — covering North West England and much of Wales.
The warnings came as flooding has already started causing havoc across the UK.
The 2014 incident happened as Westward Ho! promenade was battered by massive waves (Kennedy News & Media)One woman tragically died after being rescued from floods in Walkerburn, Scottish Boarders, on New Year's Eve.
A trapped driver was also rescued by Wales' fire services in waterlogged Machynlleth last week.
A farmer in Scotland even created a barricade using animal dung in a desperate attempt to save his home from flooding.
Rob is urging Brits to batten down the hatches (Kennedy News & Media)Nine years on from his own weather nightmare, Rob warned others to be prepared for the wet weather.
The businessman said: "If you're a little bit vulnerable this winter I'd make sure you board up what you've got."
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