Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KILLER STORM
Swiss tourist dies as caravan blown off cliff while worker hit by falling tree
STORM Ali left two people dead amid widespread destruction and chaos yesterday.
A man, in his 20s, was killed after being struck by a tree in Co Armagh while doing work for Northern Ireland Water. In Galway, a Swiss tourist died after her caravan was blown 30ft over a cliff.
The Met Office said: “The strongest wind gust in September in Northern Ireland since records began was recorded at 91mph in Co Down.”
A WORKMAN was killed by a falling tree yesterday as Storm Ali battered Northern Ireland.
The NI Water sub-contractor, believed to be in his 20s, was working close to the entrance of Slieve Gullion Forest Park in Co Armagh.
A colleague, believed to be in his 40s, was injured.
The PSNI said they “attended the sudden death of a man” in the Drumintee Road area of Newry.
A spokesman added: “A postmortem is due to take place to determine the cause of death.
“However, it is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”
A Northern Ireland Water spokesman said: “NI Water is aware of an incident involving employees of one of our contractors.
“Emergency services attended to two individuals. Sadly one of these people died at the scene.
“NI Water is currently working closely with the Emergency Services, the Health and Safety Executive and the PSNI and will do everything
possible to assist. Our thoughts are with the families of those involved at this time.”
There were more than 1,000 reports of trees being downed by the wind.
It is understood the men were working in a tent shelter of some sort when the incident happened.
A new pump is believed to have been installed and the men were working in that area.
Local sources say tree branches were continuing to fall on the scene as emergency services responded to the incident.
The Met Office said a wind gust of 91mph was recorded in Killowen in Co Down, describing it as “the strongest wind gust in September in Northern Ireland since records began in 1880s”.
Sinn Fein MLA Megan Fearon said the “local community are shocked and saddened at the news that a man was tragically killed and another man injured after a tree fell on them at Slieve Gullion Forest Park today”.
She added: “I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this man at this difficult time. The thoughts of our entire community are with them. “I also want to commend the emergency services for risking dangerous conditions to respond swiftly to this incident to help others.”
SDLP MLA Justin Mcnulty described the incident as “a terrible tragedy”.
He added: “Storm Ali has caused a lot of destruction with trees down all over the constituency, roads are dangerous and there is a lot of debris about.
“I would appeal to everyone to please take care when out and about on our roads and also be mindful of those responding to the storm the conditions they have to work in.”
Across Northern Ireland there were a number of incidents ranging from conservatories smashed to damaged vehicles.
Mary Greer was fortunate not to be hit by the falling tree that struck her house at Glenavna Manor in Whiteabbey, Co Antrim. She was upstairs when she heard two loud bangs shortly after 11am.
Mary, who is recovering from pneumonia, told UTV: “I came down and saw the devastation in the conservatory, and I thought the house was coming down around me.
“I’m just feeling upset and shaken.” In South Belfast, a lorry driver was hospitalised after a tree smashed his windscreen. The vehicle’s cab was badly damaged after the impact which appears to have been caused by a large tree falling.
A Fire Service appliance attended the incident in Osborne Park off the
I thought the house was coming down. I’m upset and shaken MARY GREER WHITEABBEY YESTERDAY
Malone Road, which was sealed off by police.
In Rugby Road, also in the south of the city, Barbara Duffield came home to find a tree had smashed into her home.
She said she was “devastated to find this tree covering my house” with a large branch hanging precariously over the property.
Ms Duffield was staying in a neighbour’s house while an assessment was made.
Part of Derry’s historic walls was closed to the public after an ancient oak tree in St Augustine’s Church was snapped in half by the winds and fell across Grand Parade.
The Foyle Bridge was closed to all traffic from early morning and Translink implemented a blanket speed restriction on all trains across Northern Ireland.
A motorist told of his lucky escape after a tree smashed his car as he made his way to work.
Glenn Moreland was driving along South Belfast’s Botanic Avenue when the branches fell and badly damaged his Peugeot 205. The head chef at nearby French Village said: “First I felt a branch hit then, crunch.
“It put in the back windscreen and ripped the roof.”
And revolving doors at one Northern Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions were smashed after they were caught by the wind. Titanic Belfast said their south doors “experienced damage” due to the high winds.