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Firefighters were forced to cut a motorist from his car after a tree fell across Abbey Road |
Lucky to be alive: Motorist trapped by huge tree fall
AN investigation has been launched into what caused a giant tree suddenly to uproot and smash through a parked car in St John’s Wood, leaving the driver lucky to be alive.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a week into looking at how the incident in Abbey Road two weeks ago happened, after it emerged the tree was deemed safe by Westminster City Council environment bosses in August last year despite a warning from a resident.
Abdul Rashid, 53, was cut out of his minicab by firefighters before being taken to the Royal Free Hospital with head injuries on the afternoon of Friday, May 1.
The council confirmed the tree was inspected eight months ago following a complaint from a resident, but said there were never any plans to remove it.
Arboricultural manager for Westminster Paul Akers said: “We are working with the HSE to investigate what caused the tree to fall.”
A spokeswoman for the HSE confirmed an probe was under way, but refused to comment further.
The council inspects each of its 8,000 trees every three years. |
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