Storm Henk: Woman hospitalised after being ‘struck’ and ‘trapped’ by falling tree

A woman was hospitalised after she was struck and trapped by a falling tree as high winds tore through South London on Tuesday.

Police and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) were called at around 3.15pm to reports that a woman had been struck by a tree in Station Approach, Orpington. 

Officers attended the scene, along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, as well as two fire engines from Orpington Fire Station and a fire and rescue unit from Bexley Fire Station.

A spokeswoman from the LFB said: “One woman – who was trapped – was released by crews before being taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.” 

The woman’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening and her family has been informed, the Met said.

The woman was injured as Storm Henk caused power cuts and property damage across the capital, with heavy rain and winds reaching up to 94mph.

Elsewhere in South London, two scaffolding structures were torn away from buildings by high winds in Creek Road, Greenwich.

Footage shared on social media shows a huge scaffolding structure collapse, blocking three driving lanes and a main cycle lane at around 3.40pm.

Police could be seen at the scene of the incident trying to stop drivers from using the pavement to get around the pile of debris, as traffic backed up the street.

X user Catherine Woodhouse, who posted the video, wrote: “Storm Henk causing chaos in Greenwich – this is the building that burned down in 2022. Creek Road is cursed.

“Cars literally forcing pedestrians out the way, so desperate to get past.”

In a later post, Ms Woodhouse explained that scaffolders had begun clearing the road at around 7pm.

A spokeswoman from the LFB said: “The LFB came across the incident whilst responding to another call but the Met were already in attendance and the scene was considered to be safe so no action was required.

“Thankfully no-one was hurt.”

The LFB responded to another incident of fallen scaffolding on Creek Road at around 3.45pm.

One fire engine and about five firefighters were called to reports of scaffolding in a “precarious position”.

A spokeswoman from the LFB said: “Firefighters from East Ham station attended the scene. The incident was over for firefighters at around 4pm.”

The storm also disrupted transport networks with “multiple incidents” being reported by South Western Railway, which advised customers not to travel.

Pictured top: Scaffolders arriving at the scene in the evening to clear the road (Picture: Catherine Woodhouse)