Storm Goretti kills father as tree crushes caravan

A hardworking father-of-two tragically lost his life when 90mph winds uprooted a tree and crushed his caravan during Storm Goretti. The devastating incident highlights the sheer force of nature battering the British countryside and raises urgent questions about the suitability of non-native species on our soil.

James Southey, 50, was killed on the evening of January 8 after the tree fell onto his home at a farm in Mawgan, Helston, Cornwall. Storm Goretti wreaked havoc across the south east of the UK at the start of the year, leaving 50,000 homes without power and blocking major highways and rural routes with thousands of fallen trees. The widespread disruption exposed the fragility of our national infrastructure when faced with severe weather.

A community's valiant effort

Neighbours heard the tree come down but were unable to reach Mr Southey, who was trapped inside. True to the enduring spirit of our people, his landlord, farmer Martin Williams, and neighbour Brett Jolliffe risked their own safety in a desperate attempt to rescue him.

In a statement read to Cornwall Coroner's Court, Mr Williams described the moment the storm hit at around 6.30pm, causing a power cut. He could still see the light from Mr Southey's log burner until a noise