'Game of inches': Tree smashes woman's home, leaving her trapped inside

Digital WritersThe Weather Network

Published on Feb. 7, 2020, 10:13 PM

Severe storms were in the area at the time of the incident.

First responders are calling it a "game of inches": That was the difference between life and death in this situation when 64 kph winds caused an oak tree to topple over an elderly woman's home in Pasco County, Florida, leaving her trapped inside.

Her neighbours at Tall Pines RV Park rushed to help her, but the fire rescue service had to intervene -- using a tower of wooden logs and specialty airbags to create enough space to retrieve her.

She suffered minor injuries including a broken bone but she was alert when help arrived.

The family dog Oreo was also saved. Neighbours said the small dog refused to leave his owner's side through the whole ordeal.

Severe storms recently moved through the area. In Tampa, the conditions caused a crane to crash onto Interstate-275 in St. Petersburg, closing all lanes of traffic.

The conditions prompted tornado warning in Pinellas County.