A woman lost her premature newborn twins when she was trapped by the rising waters and a teenager was feared dead yesterday after going missing on the night of the storms.

The mother and her twins were rescued by two RAF helicopters after an ambulance crew was unable to reach them. The woman dialled 999 after going into labour while she was stranded at her home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

The two Sea King helicopters were scrambled and arrived soon after she had given birth. All three were flown to Cheltenham hospital, where the twins died.

A Gloucestershire police spokeswoman said: “On Saturday morning, a woman in Tewkesbury who was 21 weeks pregnant requested medical assistance. A paramedic was sent. He realised immediately that, due to the floods, he would not be able to reach the location safely.

“RAF Search and Rescue were called and a helicopter carrying a highly experienced paramedic was immediately diverted to the scene. The mother and babies were taken to Cheltenham General Hospital, faster than an ambulance would have been able to do in normal circumstances, where everything possible was done to help them. Sadly, the babies did not survive. This is a tragic situation and our thoughts are with the family. The woman and her family have asked to be left alone at this difficult time.”

The search continued for a 19-year-old man who went missing at the height of the floods, police said yesterday. Mitchell Taylor, who is also from Tewkesbury, has not been seen since he left a bar in the town early on Saturday morning.

His mother, Jane Taylor, said: “It’s not like him to be gone from home so long.” Mrs Taylor said that her son had been seen last by his brother’s girlfriend at 1.30am on Saturday. She added that officers had been looking for her son in the flooded areas on the ground as well as from the air.

Matt Ford, Gloucestershire police spokesman, said that Mr Taylor had been been registered as a missing person and officers were looking for him.