A woman has died and three people have been injured when a tree fell in a car park during a storm on Sydney’s northern beaches described as a “mini-cyclone”.
Emergency services received multiple reports of storm damage across the area from 3.30pm on Sunday, with trees and powerlines down across suburbs from Mona Vale to Forestville.
Police, NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW, and rescue helicopters responded to the incident at a car park on Ocean Street, Narrabeen, after reports a tree and powerlines had come down.
A woman believed to be aged in her 70s died at the scene.
A woman is dead and two others are fighting for life after a tree fell on top of them in Narrabeen during a freak storm. @Gabrielle_Boyle #9News
MORE: https://t.co/lxrvJtkQas pic.twitter.com/UXj3tS6i78
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 19, 2021
NSW Ambulance said a woman in her late teens was treated for spinal and head injuries, while another woman aged in her 70s was treated for multiple injuries. Both were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition.
A young boy was also assessed for minor injuries but did not need to go to hospital.
“This was just a tragic scene to attend. These women were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when this storm hit,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Christie Marks said in a statement.
“As you can imagine the patients had multiple injuries after being hit by falling branches and other debris.
“The strength of the storm is evident in the destruction it caused. Given the size of this tree it’s remarkable that there weren’t more people injured.”
#narrabeen storm. Electric out! That was nuts pic.twitter.com/W6pJuu9ZJy
— Sean Fuller (@mrseanfuller) December 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/dlewis89/status/1472440564989661187
Some places got hit pretty hard.#sydneyweather pic.twitter.com/G7IEGWGKOq
— Dave (@Dave_White69) December 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/DamoSmithMedia/status/1472431101163413504
The locals are in shock and are saving what they can after
an intense storm struck the Northern Beaches at about 1500 on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/X4n2p8Hpwe— Chris Mitchell (@chrismbbcsport) December 19, 2021
Twister/mini tornado in #Narrabeen causing absolute havoc & destruction for 10 minutes today: part of our roof torn off, a neighbour's trampoline in the sea. Thoughts to everyone in the local area, stay safe.#SydneyStorm #narrabeenstorm pic.twitter.com/6qk8mOk5qc
— Gabriel Chapman (@gabriel_chapman) December 19, 2021
Fire and Rescue NSW crews responded to more than 100 calls for assistance following the wild weather.
“The storm cell, described as a ‘mini-cyclone’, struck the area around 3.30pm,” FRNSW said in a statement.
“The wild winds ripped off sheets of metal from apartment building roofs, knocked other trees onto vehicles and roadways, and tore down powerlines from Dee Why to Narrabeen.”
It said a roof was ripped off a shopping centre in Forestville and a partial building collapse occurred in Curl Curl.
AAP
