An Adelaide couple was hospitalized after a large tree branch fell onto their driveway on Tuesday, marking the second such incident in just two days. Marilyn Fuss suffered a significant head injury, while her husband, John, was trapped under the branch for approximately 30 minutes.
The couple was taken to Flinders Medical Centre but fortunately escaped serious injuries and have since been discharged. The incident occurred at their home in Aberfoyle Park as Ms. Fuss returned from work.
“My dogs ran out to greet me, and as I bent down to pat them, I heard this enormous crack,” she recounted during an interview. “I shouted, ‘Look out!’ and tried to catch it, but it was massive.” At that moment, the branch fell, knocking John five to six meters down the driveway and landing on top of him, rendering him unable to move.
Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene, estimating the fallen branch weighed around 100 kilograms. “The firefighters came really quickly and helped me to the neighbor’s front lawn,” Ms. Fuss said. They worked to cut the branch off Mr. Fuss and ensured he had no spinal injuries.
This incident follows a separate occurrence at the WOMADelaide festival on Monday evening, where a falling branch injured two festival-goers, with one requiring hospitalization. In light of these events, the State Emergency Service (SES) has issued a warning urging the public to remain vigilant about large trees, particularly during the summer months when heat can place additional stress on them.
Ms. Fuss noted that this was not the first issue with the gumtree outside their home; she had previously reported a similar incident to the City of Onkaparinga after a branch fell on New Year’s Eve. Despite notifying the council, they only conducted an assessment four days later.
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