Two people crushed by tree in Sydney park as wild winds wreak havoc across city

Two people were injured after a massive tree fell in damaging winds in Sydney’s Hyde Park, and numerous other people have had lucky escapes from fallen trees across the city.

Trees have fallen, roofs have been blown off buildings and homes and several people have been hurt as wild weather lashes the east coast.

The State Emergency Service has responded to almost 3,000 calls for help across NSW in the past 24 hours, including two flood rescues.

Since the wild winds and heavy rainfall began on Wednesday, almost 7,000 incidents have been recorded.

A tree has fallen onto a person from Hyde Park onto the footpath on Elizabeth in Sydney CBD.

The Sydney metro area has copped the worst of it, with the SES clocking 1988 calls for help since Friday.

Winds gusts of up to about 120 kilometers per hour were recorded near the city on Friday, causing trees to fall, one landing on two people in Hyde Park.

Paramedics transported one person to St Vincent’s Hospital with minor injuries. The second was treated at the scene.

Fans also had to be evacuated from a section of the SCG, after a piece of roof cladding fell from the Bill O’Reilly Stand onto seating below at the Sixers-Thunder Big Bash clash.

A wind gust of 119 km/h was recorded at Watamolla in the Royal National Park just before midday, making it the strongest gust recorded there in almost six years.

Emergency workers attend to the injured after a tree fell on Elizabeth Street. Picture: Ted Lamb

Meantime, a 93 km/h gust was recorded at Sydney Airport just before 1pm.

Videos posted to social media showed the Manly ferry navigating huge swells. As huge waves lashed the ferry, commuters were seen falling to the ground, while others grabbed the railings for support.

A tree on a car in Homer St, Kingsgrove. Picture: Facebook

A severe weather warning remains in place for much of the east coast this morning, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning a “low pressure system off of the northern NSW coast is resulting in rainfall about the Hunter and Mid North Coast as well as southerly winds along the coastal fringe from Nowra to Seal Rocks.”

According to Endeavour Energy, 6,741 customers are without power this morning across the state. The worst affected areas are centred in south west and western Sydney suburbs.

According to a spokesperson, there are more than 300 electrical hazards that need to be inspected, patrolled and repaired in order to complete repairs.

A tree over the train line at St Peters. Picture: Supplied

The carnage unfolded across Sydney as heavy winds continue.

DRUMMOYNE

A major road in Drummoyne was closed and multiple cars were trapped when a roof was blown off a shop.

One person was injured in the incident.

Emergency works at the scene in Drummoyne where a shop roof was blown off onto cars on a road. Picture: Facebook

CROYDON

A tree fell on parked cars on a side-street off busy Milton St, Croydon

Branches down on cars in Croydon during the high winds. Picture: Jo Seymour

BEXLEY: TREES, LINES DOWN

High voltage power lines came down on a bus on Bexley Rd after a falling tree snapped a telegraph pole.

Images also showed a tree smashing through a car on Homer St in Kingsgrove.

CABRAMATTA:

The NSW SES in Fairfield reported a tree had fallen on six cars at Cabramatta Leisure Centre in Sydney’s southwest, and another took out power lines before smashing through a fence on Torrens St in Canley Heights.

ILLAWARRA:

In the Illawarra, Macquarie Pass was closed when a car and fire truck collided, with 200 litres of diesel fuel spilling onto the roadway.

Lawrence Hargrave Dr was also closed in both directions between Stanwell Tops and Baldwell Hill after a tree fell across the road and powerlines.

A tree has fallen on cars at Cabramatta Leisure Centre.

Another tree uprooted in the wild weather at Canley Heights.

GYMEA:

Hundreds of residents in Gymea, in Sydney’s south, were also affected by a power outage due to a fallen tree on Arcadia Ave, with power not expected to be restored for hours.

Another tree crashed down nearby on Sylvania Road South, blocking the road.

BOAT CAPSIZED:

A boat capsized in Botany Bay, prompting NSW Police Marine Area Command and Marine Rescue to race to its aid near the end of Runway 34 at Sydney International Airport.

The boat was towed back to the Marine Area Command outpost in Sans Souci, while extreme wind has also caused damage to a back-up airport control tower and blown off a door towards a runway at the airport.

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Originally published as Two people crushed by tree in Sydney park as wild winds wreak havoc across city