A woman trapped in the floods lost her premature newborn twins despite being rescued by RAF helicopters.
The woman called for help after going into labour as she was stranded at her home in the centre of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.
Two Sea King helicopters were scrambled and arrived shortly after the new mother gave birth.
The twins were winched into one helicopter, while the woman was lifted to safety in the other and all three were flown to Cheltenham Hospital, where the twins died.
Flight Lieutenant Douglas Larkam, of B Flight 22 Squadron based at Wattisham Airfield, Suffolk, said the alarm was raised in the early hours of Saturday morning by the woman's family when she went into labour.
"As I understand it, she had given birth moments before we arrived," he said.
A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said: "On Saturday morning, a woman in Tewkesbury who was 21 weeks pregnant requested medical assistance.
"999 were called and 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."
