A devastating 49 people have already died as a result of the treacherous weather conditions brought about by Storm Emma.
The so-called ‘Beast from the East’ has proven to be deadly; taking lives across Europe.
Many of the deceased are said to be homeless, with emergency shelters being set up in cities across Europe to help battle against the effects of the perilous weather.
Director of Outreach Services at St Mungo’s homeless charity, Petra Salva, has issued the following statement:
We will be working day and night to help as many people inside as possible. Rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous but when temperatures drop, lives are at risk.
Health problems connected to continued exposure to the freezing cold, including hypothermia, exacerbate people’s already poor physical and mental health. It’s vital that we get help to people quickly so we can save lives but also in the longer term, find people permanent accommodation and the space to recover.
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough, I would urge people to get in touch via the StreetLink website streetlink.org.uk to help connect someone with their local service as soon as possible.
The elderly are also at serious risk, with the freezing conditions leaving them vulnerable to ill health.
Its youngest victim has been confirmed a seven-year-old girl who was killed when a car crashed into a house this afternoon in Looe, Cornwall.
In Paris, a woman in her nineties was found frozen to death outside of her retirement home.
In Leeds, the body of an unnamed 75-year-old woman was discovered, partially concealed underneath a parked car.
Information of the Age UK website reads:
Exposure to the cold can have a devastating impact on older people, who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of low temperatures.
As people get older it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for health.
Breathing in cold air lowers the body temperature, and raises the risk of chest infections, heart attacks and strokes.
A care worker in Glasgow, named as Elaine McNeill, died while battling the storm on her way to work. Elaine has been described by colleagues as ‘lovely’ and ‘popular.’
A spokesperson from Cordia, where Elaine worked, released the following statement:
We are shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Cordia employee, Elaine McNeill in the Milton area of Glasgow.
Elaine worked with Cordia for 15 years as a popular and valued member of our Home Care team.
We don’t have any further details about the circumstances of the incident but will be working with the authorities.
Our thoughts are with her family at this time.
An elderly skater fell through cracked ice in the village of Hank in The Netherlands, while a man from London died after trying to save his dog from a frozen lake.
According to the Metro, other tragedies include 18 death in Poland, six in the Czech Republic, five in Lithuania, four each in France and Slovakia, two each in Italy, Serbia, Romania and Slovenia and one in Spain.
Our thoughts are with the families of all those who have died due to these current hazardous conditions.
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.