Storm victim who died falling in trench during 107mph gales is NHS nurse, 56, who had just celebrated birthday
A MAN who was tragically found dead after falling into a trench has been named.
Andrew Barker, 56, died on Monday as a neighbour said he was returning home from his local Bradford pub.
The neighbour said Storm Isha had blown away barriers around the Northern Gas construction site and Barker had then “fallen down a hole”.
He said to the Telegraph and Argus: “From what I’ve been told a man was leaving the pub and he’s fallen into the hole and banged his head.”
A friend of Barker’s has now paid tribute to “a real character”.
Richard Elliott grew up with Barker and described him as a “born and bred” Bradford man.
Elliot said: “He was highly intelligent, professional, charismatic, loving, lucky for me, my best friend! I will miss him very much.
“You meet very few people in your life who mean so much to you!
“Andy was this person to me, a funnier person you could not meet. A real character for sure!”
Barker had only celebrated his birthday on January 13.
He was a former NHS cancer nurse.
Storm Isha killed five people over the weekend as gales reached 107mph.
The storm toppled trees and brought flooding to areas all over Britain and Ireland.
More than 10,000 homes in northern Scotland lost power as well as over 8000 homes in Cumbria.
Dad Jimmy Rowe was killed after his car skidded on a flooded road in Ireland on Sunday night.
Two other men were also killed in crashes in Scotland and Northern Ireland the same night.
Flights and trains were cancelled as high winds saw debris flying through the air.
Emergency services scrambled to AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium after a flailing metal bar smashed through a lorry’s windscreen as it left the ground.
A number of trees in Northern Ireland made famous by the TV series Game Of Thrones were felled by the storm.
Emergency services were called to the scene in Highgate Road, Bradford, on Monday but Barker was pronounced dead at the scene.
Russel Kaye, Operations Manager, Northern Gas Networks told the Telegraph and Argus they had been made aware a body had been found.
“The safety of members of public and our engineers is our priority and we’re supporting West Yorkshire Police with their ongoing investigations.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said on Monday: “At 7.19am this morning officers were called by the ambulance service to reports of a concern for safety at Highgate Road, Queensbury.
“A man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.”
People who tragically lost their lives in Storm Isha's chaos
There have been five people killed by Storm Isha’s wrath.
Jimmy Johnstone, 84, was killed after a crash near Falkirk in Scotland.
His local pub The Auld Vic in Falkirk took to social media to remember the pensioner who had a “zest for life”.
Dad of five Jimmy Roe was killed after his car skidded off a flooded road in Claremorris.
His devastated brother Albie Rowe said their family was in agony.
Kate Keenan, a 25-year-old from Ireland, was killed in a crash in Carnalogue at around 1.50am on Monday.
Sister Rachel said: “How am I going to do life without my beautiful little sister. You were the strong one not me. I never wanted you to leave me.”
Andrew Barker of Bradford is the latest to be named.
Another person has died in a car crash in Londonderry, but they are yet to be named.
The man, in his 60s, died in a crash involving two vans and a fallen tree in Limavady, County Londonerry.