'Worst case scenario': Woman's double heartbreak as storm destroys beach huts

The owner of Port Erin Beach Huts is facing significant financial losses after Storm Boelo washed away two of the structures, despite efforts by local volunteers to save as many as possible.

Kathryn Hodgson, who established the business from scratch five years ago, said the damage came at an already difficult time after learning the day before that her dog, Flump, had a 95 per cent chance of having lymphoma.

‘Due to my dog being diagnosed, I was already devastated,’ she said. ‘So I think it’s mainly about my dog. These are just pieces of wood, but I am sure that when I have to pay for it all I will be devastated.’

Ms Hodgson said the storm brought an unusual combination of weather conditions to Port Erin, with south-westerly winds, a spring tide and gusts reaching 70mph.

Although the huts are normally removed from the beach at the end of October, when the season ends, she said the conditions posed an exceptional risk.

‘It was the worst case scenario, and something that will probably happen every four or five years,’ she said. ‘It would be more expected in December or January.’

After checking the weather forecast on Friday, Ms Hodgson realised the huts were at risk and immediately appealed to local volunteers for help.

Around 10 men arrived that afternoon to secure the structures, dismantle huts and move furniture into storage in Ballasalla.

However, worsening conditions meant that work had to stop at noon on Saturday, leaving four huts on the beach to face the storm.

Two were washed away, with one ending up further down the beach and another between the lighthouse and the Kishtey Çheh Beach Sauna. Of the two remaining huts, one tipped sideways after its base partially collapsed.

Ms Hodgson said the local volunteers’ efforts had significantly reduced the overall damage.

‘They saved me five huts,’ she said.

‘Even the two that set sail may be salvageable, so they definitely all contributed to making sure there was a lot less damage than there was. It would have put me out of business to lose all the nine huts.’

Local farmer Adam Kinvig, along with Ms Hodgson’s son Taylor and joiner Marcus later recovered one hut using a tractor, forks and a bale wagon.

Ahead of another period of severe weather, Geoff Sutcliffe, of GS Services, and Tom Young also arrived with a forklift and trailer to remove the lilac-coloured hut, which Ms Hodgson feared could damage the nearby sauna.

Ms Hodgson said she had no insurance covering damage caused by the sea. ‘It’s a massive financial loss,’ she said.

‘It will be all my profit gone, as there isn’t much profit in it when you take into consideration the short season and the costs involved.’

Despite the damage and financial uncertainty, Ms Hodgson said the support from the local community had been a source of great encouragement.