Potential catastrophic failure...

[pandaboy]

Hi all,
I think i've broken my beloved 2001 2.0 HOT SE convertible.
Was driving along in slow traffic, tried to pull off in too low a gear, heard a fluttering noise, then lost power steering and battery light came on.
It was a hot day so roof was down and AC was on, just off full cold.
Drove, very slowly, for another 200 meters to find a safe place to pull over, opened bonnet to find the main drive belt loose, flapping and not pulled tight around pulleys (no evidence of broken pulleys though) and pink fluid dripping out under the car. 
Hydraulic power steering fluid tank looks very low, as well as the radiator expansion tank, (fluid in evidence all over this area of the engine bay.)

Apparently I may have damaged the head gasket by driving it 200 meters to pull over.
Bit gutted as i only had the tension pulley and belt replaced last year...

Has anyone had a similar experience, and what damage was caused?
Worst case scenario, what am I looking at in having the head gasket fixed?

So so gutted, as usual just spent hundreds on brakes, servicing and MOT within the last few weeks, typical 

[Audax]

Hmmn, it was a hot day today but I've driven my 9-5 for 5 miles from cold (although there was snow on the ground) with no ill effects at all. The engines are reasonably strong and cope well with heat so you'll probably be OK. If not then a head gasket will cost around £600 and then whatever else needs repair.

[pandaboy]

Thanks for the quick reply Audax, i'm hoping that it hasn't caused any major issues.
I'm just wondering if driving for 200 meters with no belt in place could have caused any lasting damage?
Hoping not...

[sgould]

Fluttering sound is possibly the drive belt hitting things.  It's been know to cut through the coolant hose.  Do all the pulleys move.  The idlers are known to seize.  Or the power steering?  Possibly also the aircon compressor, although the hope there is that the clutch slips.  But it may be seized too with the clutch engaged to keep the aircon working.

[Audax]

I'm just wondering if driving for 200 meters with no belt in place could have caused any lasting damage?

It shouldn't have done, the engine is a fairly solid lump overall (excluding the sludging issues!) so it's unlikely you've done any major damage, you could be unlucky and need a head gasket but I wouldn't worry about it right now. Get the problem sorted that caused the aux belt to come off and try it.

[wrighar]

Father drove his old 2.3i CDE Auto 25 miles with the belt wrapped around the pullies.

No head damage at all.

New pulley tensioner and belt and all was well again.

[pandaboy]

Update...
Apparently the belt just snapped, quite why who knows...?  (Especially considering it was a new belt and idler pulley last year, well just over 12 months so no warranty repair.)
New belt attached, all fluids topped up, no apparent head damage, phew!
Thanks for all the replies, put my mind at rest.