Croydon: Cameron St couple almost crushed to death in wild storms

A Croydon man cheated death but lost his cat when his roof collapsed, pinning him and his partner to the bed by beams and debris.

A Croydon man remains traumatised, homeless and with little more than his clothes and his car after he was crushed and pinned to the bed during Melbourne’s wild storms.

Adam Smith and partner Dave cheated death after a giant tree from their neighbour’s home smashed into their Cameron St home about 2am on June 10 while they were asleep.

The tree caused the roof to collapse and beams, tiles and plaster fell on the couple and trapped them for about 40 minutes.

Mr Smith managed to get his arm free to call emergency services, who had to use saws to cut pylons and clear debris to free the pair.

Paramedics used a spinal board to take them out of a broken window and to The Royal Melbourne Hospital to be treated for fractures and bruising.

“I thought we were going to die together in bed,” Mr Smith said.

“I felt the tiles and everything fall on my head and I freaked out … Dave was screaming out and we were both shaking.

“It definitely still feels raw, and I’m having trouble going to sleep at night,” he said.

The home they were renting is set to be demolished, and they have been staying with Mr Smith’s daughter Lani in Lilydale, whose home remains without power.

Lani has started a GoFundMe fundraiser to support her dad and his partner, who have lost nearly all their possessions including Mr Smith’s cat Onslow, who went missing in the storms.

“We didn’t have insurance, all our stuff is ruined, but we’ll see what we can salvage once its safe to check it out,” he said.

Mr Smith said he and Dave planned to marry in November, however their plans would be most likely put on hold following their near-death experience.

He said he’d been heartened by offers of support on a Facebook community noticeboard and help from other strangers.

“It’s amazing, people we don’t know have said ‘anything you need, reach out’,” Mr Smith said.