A Macclesfield man says he feels “very lucky” to be alive after a large tree fell onto his car during Storm Claudia, smashing through the windscreen and crushing the vehicle’s roof.
Stephen Wise had just dropped his step-daughter at school and was driving along Manchester Road when the tree suddenly collapsed. Branches smashed into the front of his car, showering him with glass.
“I thought the tree was going to hit me in the eyes and I felt all the glass coming in at me,” Mr Wise said, describing the moment as “scary and shocking.”
Three vehicles were struck, though no injuries were reported, according to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. Photos from the scene showed a blue Volvo, a white car, and a red vehicle pinned under the fallen tree.
Mr Wise recalled the chaotic scene inside his car as the impact triggered airbags and buckled the frame. “Everything exploded around me. The window caved in, the airbags went off, and I felt the car being squashed,” he told BBC Radio Manchester.
Fellow motorists quickly stepped in to help and contacted emergency services. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics arrived moments later. Wise was assessed by ambulance crews and later taken to A&E for further checks.
He said he feels fortunate to have survived the impact. “If the tree had been another foot forward the main part of it would have gone straight through the windscreen and into my head.”
Elsewhere in Cheshire, Storm Claudia caused further destruction. In Bollington, several residents were evacuated after a large tree fell across Clarke Lane, damaging three houses and knocking down power lines.
Firefighters established road closures and cordons while assessing the stability of the damaged buildings and the fallen tree. The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds and widespread flooding across the region, causing travel disruption and prompting warnings for people to avoid unnecessary journeys.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions as Storm Claudia moves across the UK, with emergency services urging the public to stay alert amid ongoing severe weather.
