Strong Winds Blow Tree onto Car Roof

A man was trapped for almost half-an-hour when strong winds blew a tree on top of his car on Thursday morning.

The 25-year-old was in his Ford Escort at the junction of Boxgrove Avenue and London Road, in Guildford, when the tree came crashing down at about 10.40am.

Emergency services, including an air ambulance, were sent to the scene, and a member of the public also helped with the rescue efforts.

Crew manager Steven Redditch, from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Luckily, there was a passer-by with a chainsaw who was opposite the incident and helped the fire brigade cut down the tree.

“It slammed the roof on top of him [the driver]. Once we had cut down the tree, we cut the roof off and brought him out on a backboard.”

Mr Redditch said the rescue operation at the scene took 27 minutes.

A police spokesperson said the man was conscious throughout, and was then taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital where his injuries were not thought to be serious.

First printed in: Surrey Advertiser Online