Shock deluge ravages Far North football club with players forced to dodge tumbling trees and debris

A freak storm has left one of the Far North’s largest sporting clubs tallying a major damage bill yet again, with the side’s skipper lucky to be alive after dodging a falling tree and light pole as he scurried to safety.

Fences along Marlin Coast Rangers' home ground in Trinity Beach have sustained significant damage following the storm.

A freak storm has left one of the Far North’s biggest sporting clubs tallying yet another major damage bill with the side’s skipper lucky to be alive after dodging a falling tree and light pole as he scurried to safety.

“Pure white” sheeting rain and howling winds on Sunday evening shocked residents in Cairns’ northern beaches, with the SES called to multiple jobs in the region.

A grandstand at Marlin Coast Rangers home ground rolled over during a shock storm on Sunday night.

At Trinity Beach, Marlin Coast Rangers’ home ground copped a lashing with a grandstand flipped, lighting fixtures smashed and a large tree toppling fences.

“It was like a cyclone,” club secretary Danielle Scott, who lives nearby said.

“The trampoline at our house was lifting up. The shade sails looked like they were going to snap off the chain.

“We couldn’t believe the level of destruction. It was just that fast.”

Rangers' Charlie Beverley heads the ball towards goal in the Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) Far North and Gulf premiership men's grand final match between the Marlin Coast Rangers and the Mareeba Bulls, held at Endeavour Park, Manunda last September. Picture: Brendan Radke

Rangers captain Charlie Beverley, who was running an individual session with another player at the time, said the shock weather event very nearly could’ve killed someone.

“It was bizarre,” Mr Beverley said.

“It just came out of nowhere. I was lucky to get out there unscathed. It could’ve been fatal.”

As the rain and wind intensified, Mr Beverley paused training to take cover nearby.

“We could see the storm coming and there was a bit of rain so we took shelter,” he said.

“Then out of nowhere this massive gust of wind came and you see branches flying through the air.”

Eventually, the footballers were forced to make a mad dash for the team’s club house.

“It was just getting windier and I said, ‘We’re going to have to move here,’” Mr Beverley said.

“We grabbed our bags and bolted across the field. It was just pure white, heavy rain going sideways and trees falling.

“Another five or 10 seconds and it could’ve been us (getting hit).

“When we came back out a power pole had fallen right where my training session was. That could’ve been very dangerous.

“The boy’s dad who was watching the session was in the grandstand that flipped over just minutes before.”

Rangers were still reeling from an estimated $200,000 in damages from Tropical Cyclone Jasper last wet season, Ms Scott said.

“For a community club it’s just devastating,” she said.

“We need a crane to lift the grandstand and one of the trees that fell is monstrous.

“The SES came out last night and they couldn’t remove it. We’ve had to appeal to the council for assistance because it’s laying across the car park and the road.

“I would estimate it will be $5000 to get it removed. All the (torn down) fences are now letting the wallabies in too.”

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that before. It was blue skies when the session started and not long after.”

SES regional director for the Far North Wayne Coutts said localised storms weren’t uncommon during the wet season.

“There were a few jobs around caused by three or four cells around the place,” Mr Coutts said.

“This time of the year, those happen and unfortunately when the ground is damp you can lose trees.”

Rangers, who won the Football Queensland Premier League Far North and Gulf grand final last September, are calling on volunteers to help clean up on Tuesday afternoon.

“We’re expecting more than 400 registrations soon and we can’t train because we don’t have any lights,” Ms Scott said.

Originally published as Shock deluge ravages Far North football club with players forced to dodge tumbling trees and debris