A mini-tornado unexpectedly struck an athletics competition at the Central Park Athletics Club in Dartford, Kent, on Saturday morning, causing significant disruption and injuring an elderly volunteer.
The freak weather event occurred just before 10 a.m. on an otherwise calm and sunny day, catching hundreds of children and officials by surprise. The whirlwind appeared without warning on the track, quickly swirling dust, tables, chairs, and tent materials into the air. Footage captured by onlookers shows the vortex growing rapidly, generating ferocious winds that sent objects and debris hurtling across the stadium.
Tony Durey, chairman of Central Park Athletics, who has been involved in the sport for over 35 years, described the event as unprecedented. "Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this tornado came from the car park right down the middle of the track," he stated. He noted the whirlwind's resemblance to those seen on television, with dust and debris spiraling into a typical tornado shape as it moved across the track.
The vortex caused considerable damage, particularly to the electronic timing equipment, which is valued at thousands of pounds. Tables and chairs were reportedly thrown approximately 50 feet into the air. Several officials, many of them elderly volunteers, were caught in the event. "It lifted them off their chairs and literally threw them into the air. A couple of them landed on top of each other," Durey recounted.
One official sustained a chest injury and was taken to the hospital. The individual has since been released and is recovering at home. The dry conditions contributed to a large cloud of dust being generated as the whirlwind crossed the track, reducing visibility and adding to the frightening experience for witnesses, especially the young athletes present.
The event lasted approximately 90 seconds before dissipating as quickly as it had formed. Terry Skelton, chairman and coach of HY Athletics Club, who was present with young competitors, corroborated the rapid escalation of the phenomenon. "It started off really small right on the start and finish line, and then got bigger and bigger," he said. He also noted an incident where a woman was lifted by the wind before falling backward onto an 85-year-old timekeeper, who later sought medical attention.
This incident follows a similar event last month, where a mini-tornado was observed at a farm shop car park in Lincolnshire, further highlighting the unusual nature of such weather phenomena in the region.