Storm Henk claims first victim as man is killed when tree crushes car in 94mph wind carnage as travel chaos continues
STORM Henk has claimed its first victim after a tree crushed a car in 94mph winds.
The man in his 50s was killed on the A433 in Gloucestershire after a tree toppled onto two cars on Tuesday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident eight miles north of Malmesbury.
Brits had been told not to leave their homes during the storm yesterday, with forecasters issuing a danger to life warning.
The A433 remains closed in both directions between Cirencester and Tetbury.
Gloucestershire Police said: “A man died after a tree fell on the car he was driving on Tetbury Road near Kemble yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 2 January.
“Police were called at around 3.15pm with reports of a large fallen tree on the A433 Tetbury Road near the junction with the A429.
“Emergency services, including an air ambulance, attended the location which is between Tetbury and Cirencester.
“Despite the efforts of those at the scene a man aged in his 50s and from the Bath area died. His next of kin and the coroner have been informed.
“The road remains closed as recovery and investigation work continues and motorists are asked to find alternative routes.”
Brits were told not to leave home during Storm Henk, with forecasters issuing a danger to life warning.
In Birmingham a brave passer-by rescued a three-year-old child and a driver from a car submerged in flood water.
The hero then secured the vehicle to the bridge to prevent it being washed away, local cops said.
A father also rescued an unresponsive woman from the freezing River Severn in Worcester after spotting her “floating like a mannequin”,
Colin McGarva, 31, waded into the fast-flowing river to save the motionless 50-year-old woman.
Families were even forced to abandon their caravans in the Billing Aquadrome in Northampton, this afternoon, thanks to the torrid conditions.
It comes as last nights weather is continuing to cause travel chaos today.
Greater Anglia said train services are experiencing “severe disruptions” due to the storm with “multiple incidents” affecting services across the network.
Meanwhile a joint statement from South Western Railway and Network Rail said that disruptions linked to the storm will continue throughout the day.
The Environment Agency said there were 368 active alerts in England for possible flooding, 322 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected and, in Northampton, one danger to life severe flood warning.
In Wales there was one severe flood warning, 15 flood warnings and 39 flood alerts, according to Natural Resources Wales.