Couple ‘devastated’ after £33,000 life financial savings stolen from their motorhome

A grandad has been left “devastated” after £33,000 in money he’d been saving for his late son’s gravestone was stolen from his motorhome throughout floods.

Phil, 68, and Dawn Henderson, 65, hid three baggage of cash and jewelry below a mattress of their motorhome after rising water from Storm Babet threatened their property final month.

The couple had been placing money apart for each their retirement and to buy a headstone for his or her late son, Jay Henderson, 36, who handed away from liver failure final yr.

When their regularly flooded bungalow in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, seemed set to be hit once more on October 19 by Storm Babet, they moved their valuables to their cellular camper.

However, Mr Henderson believes thieves watched them make a number of journeys to the van, which was solely parked 10 yards from their property, earlier than placing after midnight.

The couple’s bungalow then flooded the following day, additional including to his heartbreak. Mr Henderson mentioned: “I lost my son last year and then this has happened. It’s absolutely devastating.

“You can’t put into phrases how we really feel and the way we’re going to maneuver ahead after this. They’ve hit the jackpot. They simply robbed us. And we’re flooded as properly.”

Mr and Mrs Henderson, who’ve run a fishery and campsite at their residence handle for 20 years, had been beforehand “wiped out” by flooding in 2007, 2019 and 2022.

After getting a Government warning to arrange for rising river ranges on October 19, they moved their valuables into their Fiat Kon-Tiki motorhome, which is located on larger floor.

Their life financial savings included £33,000 in money in addition to gold jewelry and diamond rings, valued at round £7,000 in complete.

Mr Henderson mentioned: “We never had suspicions that there was anybody nearby. We were 10 yards away from my front door, loading my motorhome. All the lights were on in the house. We’d been preparing all day, and I’d filled the motorhome with stuff – all our life savings – and put them under the bed.”

But shortly after midnight, Mr Henderson mentioned: “We noticed that my awning had been moved, and got into the motorhome. My wife said, ‘Check the money’ and it had all gone.”

Mr Henderson, who’s been receiving treatment for bowel cancer and has a spinal injury, now faces being forced to continue working as a valve technician at a power station.

He said: “Say your life is 12ft ruler, I’m down to 10 inches. I’ve worked all my life, and I’d have liked to have gone away and enjoyed the bit that I’ve got left. But now, I’m just living in a motorhome. I’m retirement age, and I’ve got bowel cancer.

“I’m going to have to keep working, but to be honest with you, I’m not fit enough to go to work, I’m not well enough. But I have to go.”

The ex-British champion motorbike racer had spent the past year adding £25,000 to his wife’s £8,000 in savings by selling caravans, vans, motorbikes and mopeds.

He’d planned to use at least £14,000 of the money to pay for a headstone for his son, Jay, who passed away on August 30.

Though the pair had thought about putting the money in their bank, they said they were worried about walking through the centre of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, with wads of cash.

Mr Henderson said: “When Jay died, I said I would put £14,000 away for that lad’s headstone, and if it costs more than that, I would pay more.”

Mr Henderson said he didn’t know how to put his life together after the theft and even feared his home may flood again before the end of the winter. He added: “I can’t see a way forward. I can’t rebuild the business because where we live, in the house, it’s just gone. And I haven’t got cash to do it.”

A spokesperson from South Yorkshire Police said: “We had been known as to reviews of a housebreaking on October 20 at 1.24am.

“It was reported that a large amount of cash and jewellery were stolen from a camper van. Officers have completed CCTV enquiries in the area and enquiries are ongoing.”

The household have arrange a fundraiser to assist them as they attempt to rebuild their lives, which could be discovered here.