Chunk of roof 'size of a coffee table' kills woman as storm Doris sweeps UK

Francesca Gillett23 February 2017

Storm Doris has claimed its first victim after a woman died when she was hit by a piece of roof the "size of a coffee table".

The pedestrian was confirmed dead at the scene outside Starbucks in Wolverhampton city centre after suffering "very serious head injuries", West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Rebecca Davis, a 40-year-old teacher from Wolverhampton, walked past shortly after the incident at around midday and saw a woman receiving CPR.

She said the woman - who looked to be aged "between 20 and 30" - appeared to have been hit by something resembling a piece of roof which had fallen off a building nearby.

Officials at the scene in Wolverhampton where the woman died
Matthew Cooper/PA

"I think the wind broke it and caused it to fall. I don't know if it was hit by something else or just the wind did it," she told the Press Association.

She said that while the woman had been hit "right outside Starbucks", it was unclear if the debris had fallen from the coffee shop or from a nearby building.

"I don't think anyone else was hurt. It was a big piece about the size of a coffee table but I think it just hit her," Mrs Davis said.

Storm Doris - In pictures

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With Storm Doris battering large swathes of the country, the woman's death comes as gusts of almost 95mph have been recorded.

Branded a "weather bomb" by the Met Office, Doris has brought down trees, grounded planes, forced the closure of the Port of Liverpool and caused the cancellation of Coronation Street filming.

Amber warnings predicting strong winds and heavy rain are in place for North Wales, the Midlands, the East and the North West and have been extended to include the London area.

A top wind speed of 94mph was recorded in Capel Curig, North Wales, on Thursday morning, the Met Office said.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said officers are "currently still in attendance" at the scene in Wolverhampton, along with the ambulance and fire services.

"Roads in the area are closed and motorists and pedestrians are being advised to avoid the city centre. The incident is believed to be related to Storm Doris," she said.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said they were called to the scene at 11.43am, adding: "On arrival, crews found a woman who had suffered very serious head injuries.

"Sadly, it quickly became apparent that there was nothing that could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene."

Reporting by PA

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