Two people were taken to hospital Tuesday morning after a tree fell on a mobile home in the Cherry Creek area, east of Port Alberni, during a windstorm.
“It was just a bad scene. It was really bad,” said Tim Vorstenvosph who lives nearby.
Vorstenvosph says he heard a loud crack around 5:30 am and when he went to investigate he found a huge fir tree that had sliced through his neighbour’s home and the elderly man and women inside suffering serious injuries.
“Both had blood all over their faces. They were in shock definitely. They didn’t know anything at that point what had happened,” added Vorstenvosph.
At least one other tree also fell on the home.
According to BC Emergency Health Services (EHS), emergency crews were called to the home on Elkford Road, near Highway 4, just before 7 a.m. The mobile home was located in the Mountain View Mobile Home Park.
Several paramedic crews went to the scene, including an air ambulance. Paramedics cared for two patients with significant injuries, BC EHS said.
One patient was transported in stable condition by a ground crew to hospital. The second patient was flown in critical condition to a different hospital with a critical care team.
Cherry Creek and Port Alberni firefighters also responded to the incident. Neighbours told CHEK News the two people who were in the mobile home were an elderly couple and the tree had fallen on their bedroom.
“The tree actually came from across the creek. It built up a tremendous amount of momentum and just sliced through the building,” said Cherry Creek Fire Chief Lucas Banton.
“I went to glance inside the bedroom and the whole tree was right there where they slept,” said Vorstenvosph.
I’m in #PortAlberni now where an elderly couple was rushed to hospital this morning after a tree crashed into their bedroom during the storm. @CHEK_News #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/D7eaKigYPM
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) November 17, 2020
Parts of Vancouver Island saw high winds throughout Tuesday, leading to multiple power outages and BC Ferries cancellations.
Dean Stoltz
