- Details
Two people were injured in the grounds of Mount Falcon Hotel, outside Ballina this afternoon, after part of a large tree fell on the marquee, used as a cafe.
The injured were two members of staff who were working in the marquee when part of a large tree came crashing down.
Emergency teams, including ambulances and fire brigades rushed to the scene following the incident that occurred around 1 pm.
No other injuries were reported. Both staff members were taken from the scene to Mayo University Hospital. The extent of their injuries is not known at present.
An onlooker, who declined to be named, told Midwest News that there were scenes of panic in the immediate aftermath of the tree falling.
“I was about 40 yards away”, the eyewitness said. “I heard a huge crash. At first I thought it was thunder. There was immediate panic. People were screaming and running in all directions. It’s a miracle that nobody was injured”.
A spokesperson for the luxury Mount Falcon resort told Midwest News this evening that the two injured staff members are undergoing scans at the hospital and wished them both well. She thanked the emergency services for their rapid response to the freak accident that occurred.
She also confirmed that the hotel resort will be closed to the public tonight.
Work teams have been busy this afternoon clearing the fallen timber from the marquee site with equipment which included chainsaws and a tractor.