Chaos for Brits stranded by Hurricane Sandy

Thousands of trapped British nationals are among those who bore the brunt of the deadly storm that battered America’s east coast.

In New York, terrified victims posted pictures online showing yellow taxis floating along Lower Manhattan’s streets, and people wearing snorkels as they tried to make their way through the water.

British model and TV presenter Alexa Chung, 28, was in New York when the hurricane hit. Describing herself as a “Natural Disaster Magnet”, she tweeted that she was stocking up on “apocalypse snacks” and added: “Frankensandy needs to bog off.”

Holidaymaker Tony Lee, who was holed up in a fourth-floor flat in Brooklyn overnight, described the ferocity of the storm. He said: “We initially thought we had seen an explosion over the Lower East Side, but locals told us it was probably a transformer that had blown up. We immediately lost internet connection, lights and power, so that was frightening.

“We were surrounded by green flashes of lightning and this howling wind, and everything bending over and flying at the windows.”

Another Briton, Tom Latchem, had a near miss when a window in his apartment block shattered and water started pouring in through the ceiling, while Martin Williams, who lives in Manhattan, said much of the city lost power.

He said: “Swathes of apartment blocks are in the dark. The World Trade Center is shrouded in darkness. Luckily we still have power. Last night was scary — on the 30th floor the building was shaking and the windows were rattling. The sound of the wind through the high rises was eerie. What a mess.”

However, some people braved the hostile conditions, jogging in the streets, while others made for New York bars — some of which offered “Hurricane Specials” — to drink while the storm raged.

Chris Sell, a Briton who has lived in the city for 23 years, said many people were feeling resilient. “The flooding is the big thing. It feels a bit like it did after 9/11 but we are a tough breed here.”

David Foster, 31, a foreign language teacher from Bethnal Green, was trapped after travelling to the US for a long weekend with his fiancée Amy Coates, 27, and his father Roger, 62.