Tourists injured

Locals aid couple injured by falling limb

TWO tourists have been hospitalised with injuries sustained from a falling tree at Richmond.

Tasmania Police report two tourists have been taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital by ambulance with injuries after a large limb fell on top of them yesterday.

Locals reacted quickly to save the pair.

“A female was trapped under the branch and a male was hit on the head and knocked to the ground.,” says Richmond store owner Kosta Tzortzis. “Us and [15] other people ran outside to get the branch off her.”

A RICHMOND shopowner rushed to the aid of two tourists knocked to the ground by a large limb torn from a tree during wild weather conditions.

Tasmania Police said two injured tourists were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital by ambulance yesterday after the limb fell on top of them at the corner of Bridge and Edward streets about 2.30pm.

Late last night, the Royal Hobart Hospital said both were in a stable condition in the emergency department and were undergoing tests, with results expected this morning.

Richmond Village Store owner Kosta Tzortzis said the limb, belonging to a gum tree out the front of Czegs’ Cafe, fell across Edward St yesterday afternoon — possibly a combination of strong winds and trunk rot.

“It injured a couple of tourists,” Mr Tzortzis said.

“A woman was trapped under the branch and a man was hit on the head and knocked to the ground.

“Us and [15] other people ran outside to get the branch off her.”

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said council officers spent most of the afternoon clearing debris and assessing the tree’s safety before Edward St was re-opened to traffic.

“Two more branches will have to be taken down by specialist crews,” he said.

Ald Chipman said it was too early to speculate who was liable for the incident as the tree was believed to be on private property.

“If it becomes a nuisance, we [the council] have an obligation to remove it in the interest of public safety,” he said.

The accident comes after Tasmania’s south copped an- other barrage of rain overnight on Saturday.

The heavy rain that hit the state’s west and south on Saturday night caused flash flooding at Gagebrook, putting a local skate park and parts of Tottenham Rd under water.

The upper Huon catchment also received up to 70mm of rain in the 48 hours to 9am. Minor flooding was reported at Tahune Bridge and Harrisons Opening, and there were fears it could extend downstream to Judbury and Huonville.

A minor flood warning for the Huon and a flood watch for River Derwent and south east catchments was active last night.

Strong wind warnings forecast for coastal waters, the East Coast, and the South East Coast yesterday remain in place today.