Michael Howarth's lucky escape after a 50ft tree fell on top of his van

Michael Howarth's lucky escape after a 50ft tree fell on top of his van, the white van is just visible through the leaves

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Michael Howarth had a lucky escape on Tuesday afternoon (6 June) after a 50ft tree fell on top of his van on Redfearn Wood in Caldershaw.

Michael had pulled up on the opposite side of the road to make a quick phone call, but didn’t even have time to pick his phone up before the tree crashed onto him.

He said: “I was shook up, but I can start to laugh about it now. Had I parked 15 feet to my left, I would have been taken out: anyone on foot pushing a pram would have gone in a second. The trunk was 18 inches in diameter and about four feet off the floor.”

He praised Rochdale Borough Council for their swift response in closing the road and dismantling the tree.

Michael said: “They came out in minutes. As someone who gives the council grief online, I have to say the two lads who came out were amazing, dismantling the tree from around the van.

“The tree was being supported by the foliage on my van so it was important how they cut it away, had they cut the foliage first the trunk would have crashed through my van so they started at the bottom and worked forward, then when they got close to van cut the trunk at the van end and lifted it all off the van before finishing off.

“I can’t stress enough how thoroughly professional the tree men were.”

“I was fortunate; some men were working 40 yards away and thought I’d never get out. I pushed the door open and crawled out through the branches. The lads had direct numbers so given that I was trapped under the tree and the road closed, it was considered an emergency.”

He added: “I was shaking like a leaf. I should be dead; one of my nine lives.”

Even Michael’s van escaped unscathed once uncovered from the foliage.

Michael says there were branches four inches wide just two inches from the roof of the van and ‘even five feet to the left would’ve had it smashed up’.