A man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a large tree fell on him on Shirehampton Road in the Stoke Bishop area of Bristol on Sunday evening, Avon and Somerset Police said.
Emergency services were called shortly before 5 p.m. after the man, who was reportedly walking his dog, was found injured beneath the tree and taken to hospital for treatment of injuries described as serious. Fire crews and police attended the scene and the ambulance service alerted officers, the force said.
A police spokesperson said: "We were called by the ambulance service shortly before 5pm to reports a man had been injured after a tree fell in Shirehampton Road in the Stoke Bishop area of Bristol. Emergency services attended and the man was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries described as serious." No further details on his condition were released by police on Sunday night.
Local residents and witnesses reported heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning earlier in the day. One resident told Bristol Live they had been woken at around 9 a.m. by loud thunder and believed lightning may have struck and weakened trees near Stoke Lodge playing fields. Another witness told the publication the tree had been visibly damaged in the stormy weather before it collapsed.
A local community page described a ‘‘very large branch’’ falling from a tree and said emergency services provided a "very fast and comprehensive attendance." Stoke Bishop councillor Kaz Self posted on social media expressing concern for the dog walker and his family.
Bristol City Council was approached for comment. Police said inquiries were ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident.
The incident follows a period of unsettled weather across the region, with the Met Office issuing warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms earlier in the day. Fallen trees and branches are a known hazard during and after such weather, and councils and emergency services routinely advise the public to avoid parks and open spaces while severe weather warnings are in force.
At the time of publication, no further updates on the victim's condition had been provided by the emergency services.