Storm Henk ‘claims its first victim’ after falling tree crushes a car in Gloucestershire: Britain is battered by 94mph gusts sparking travel hell and leaving more than 100,000 homes without power – with wet and windy weather bringing more flood warnings

Storm Henk ‘claims its first victim’ after falling tree crushes a car in Gloucestershire: Britain is battered by 94mph gusts sparking travel hell and leaving more than 100,000 homes without power – with wet and windy weather bringing more flood warnings By Eirian Jane Prosser Published: 19:35 EST, 2 January 2024 | Updated: 19:46 EST, 2 January 2024 e-mail View comments Storm Henk has reportedly claimed its first victim after a falling tree crushed a car on a country road in the Cotswolds. Emergency services raced to the scene in Gloucestershire at 3. 15pm after receiving reports of two cars stuck in a huge tree that had been uprooted during strong winds.

One car is said to have been completely crushed, while a white Kia sustained minor damage, according to Wiltshire 999. A person inside one of the crushed cars was pronounced dead at the scene. The A433 Tetbury Road will remain closed overnight and into tomorrow in both directions as forensic investigations continue.

It comes as the New Year’s storm continues to batter the UK, with gusts up to 94mph creating travel hell and leaving more than 100,000 homes without power. London was brought to a halt as the storm pummeled the capital, with images from Forest Hill showing huge trees upturned, falling on top of cars and against houses. In Greenwich, south-east of the city, shocking footage showed scaffolding from a four-storey building site was seen swaying in the wind before being knocked into the ground.

Marketing manager Josh Hargreaves, 30, said that he and his boyfriend had watched the scaffolding ‘pretty much swaying in the wind’ before falling from the front of the building at around 3. 40pm. LONDON: A fallen tree lands on a car in Forest Hill after Storm Henk brought winds of up to 94mph HAMPSHIRE: Fire crews attend an air base at Middle Wallop after Army Air Corps failed to secure an Apache helicopter LONDON: A huge tree in Forest Hill is uprooted after being battered by Storm Henk LONDON: Scaffolding falls onto Creek Road in Greenwich after an amber weather warning was issued Amber weather warnings issued by the Met Office remain in place for a swathe of central England warning people of more travel disruption, roof damage and power cuts.

A woman in Orpington, London, was crushed when a tree fell on her as Storm Henk rifled through the city. Firefighters rushed to the scene to free her, before she was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Londoner’s had been urged to stay indoors yesterday evening after forecasters predicted the storm would bring ‘very wild outdoor conditions’, while Mayor Sadiq Khan had warned of ‘potential risk to life and property’.

The Army is now facing a multi-million-pound bill after one of its hugely expensive Apache gunships was blown over by Storm Henk. The state-of-the-art helicopter, estimated to be worth £15million, should have been securely strapped down at the Army Air Corps’ base. A strong gust of wind tipped over the 5.

5ton Apache, damaging its rotors. Fire crews rushed to secure the Apache in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, where gusts exceeded 50 knots. A source said: ‘It was a massive blunder leaving it outside on a day like this.

There’s a lot of embarrassment at the base over what’s happened. We’re waiting for the bill. ‘ KENT: A tree blown over lands on a car in Beckenham in Bromley Ventusky Privacy Policy Hundreds of flood warnings and flood alerts have been put in place by the Environment Agency for today More rainy weather is expected across much of the country today, as yellow weather warnings for rain remain in place Roads and railways were blocked by flooding and fallen trees as an amber weather warning for strong winds, which could cause ‘danger to life’, was issued covering a 400 mile swathe from Norwich to Swansea.

In Kenilworth, Warwickshire, firefighters rescued the occupants of a car marooned in floodwater. A yellow weather warning will remain in place overnight for Wales, the East Midlands, London, the south-east, north-west and south-west. Up to 1.

5 inches of rain is expected in some regions, as heavy downpours soak already saturated ground. Last night, there were 297 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 368 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, according to the Environment Agency. Stefan Laeger, the Environment Agency’s flood duty manager, said that the heavy rainfall means ‘significant local flooding’ on the River Nene, in the east of England, is ‘probable’ on Tuesday and tomorrow.

He said: ‘Recent and ongoing heavy rain is falling on already very wet ground and could see some riverside locations across England flood until Thursday, while surface water flooding is also possible at times during the next five days in parts of the country. There are reports a woman was crushed by a falling tree in Orpington, south east London, amid the high winds. Pictured: Emergency services at the scene of the incident There was a heavy emergency services response in Station Road, Orpington, at around 3pm after the tree fell on the woman.

Her condition is currently unknown HAMPSHIRE: A car lies partially submerged on the A272 at Petersfield yesterday afternoon EAST SUSSEX: People play in the wind on the beach as waves smash into Newhaven ‘Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground, working to minimise the impacts of flooding where possible. We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move car. ‘ Many spent yesterday in dark, cold homes without power.

The Energy Networks Association said that around 102,600 customers were initially affected, with nearly 40,000 still without power. Ross Easton, spokesperson from the company said: ‘Intensive winds, higher than originally forecast, of more than 80mph in places have meant that repairs have been needed to electricity infrastructure and right now engineering teams are working to reconnect supplies as quickly and safely as possible. ‘ Yesterday, those who braved the roads faced difficult driving conditions while rail passengers trying to board being told to ‘not travel unless absolutely necessary’.

Motorists faced difficult driving conditions near Folkestone in Kent while drivers were also stopped from using the bridge at the Dartford Crossing heading south due to the strong winds. National Highways apologised as it estimated some motorists could face delays of up to two hours, and diverted traffic that was being sent through a tunnel. It advised that ‘unless you are near the front of the queue, it will take some time for you to get moving again’.

LONDON: Departure boards at Paddington Station went empty last night after a power outage caused delays and cancellations on services in and out of the terminal LONDON: A tree blown over by the wind that crashed into a portico in Tooting, South West London yesterday NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: Flooding at Billing Aquadrome where 1,000 people were evacuated today A message on the South Western Railway warned passengers that there were ‘multiple incidents affecting services across the network’ and advised customers not to travel. Thameslink also warned passengers not to travel ‘unless absolutely necessary’ as multiple weather-related incidents across the entire network had affected all routes. Several London Underground and Overground lines faced disruption while the Elizabeth Line was suspended between London Paddington, Reading and Heathrow due to a power supply issue – with passengers reporting being stuck on trains.

A power failure saw many trains heading in and out of Paddington cancelled, with the departure boards at the London terminal being left empty due to the lack of leaving services. National Rail told passengers that various routes across the south west and north west of England along with the Midlands, East Anglia and South Wales could be affected. It added that speed restrictions were being imposed which would mean possible train delays.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to The Ford in Kenilworth to rescue a motorist who got stuck trying to drive through flood water. A spokesman said: ‘Due to the speed of the flowing water we used our inflatable sled to safely rescue the car’s occupants. Please avoid the area and don’t try to drive through flood water.

‘ Last year was provisionally the second warmest in the UK since records began in 1884, according to the Met Office. The hottest was 2022. MailOnline has contacted Gloucestershire Police and South West Ambulance Service regarding the reported fatality.

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