One of the iconic images of the Great Storm 20 years ago was a cross-Channel ferry beached like a whale on the coast outside Folkestone. The Hengist was moored in Folkestone harbour the night of October 15 and was thought to be safe. But the storm’s furious winds broke the ship’s moorings, and faced with the ship being smashed on the harbour walls Captain Sid Bridgewater sailed out to sea. Soon afterwards the Hengist lost electrical power, leaving the vessel in the dark and drifting helplessly in wild seas. “I thought we were going to capsize,” recalled Captain Bridgewater. Mayday calls were sent, but the Hengist soon struck a concrete embankment on the coast, tearing open a huge gash in her hull. Waves drove the ship higher up the shoreline on to a relatively flat beach at high tide, and as the tide withdrew the ship was left high and dry and the crew saved.

The South Coast of England bore the brunt of the storm’s fury, with winds gusting to more than 160km/h (100mph). Another ferry, St Christopher, was sailing the Channel and spent several terrifying hours hurled about, with cars crushed inside, before finally docking the next day. Not so fortunate was the Sumnia freighter, which sank trying to get into Dover harbour.