Storm tree fall family still dealing with 'trauma'

A mother says she and her family are still dealing with emotional "trauma" after a tree smashed into their home during Storm Goretti, causing huge damage.

Cornwall Housing moved Emily Hotchkiss and her two young children into temporary accommodation after the tree fell on their Falmouth home on 8 January and has since found them a permanent home.

Hotchkiss said having to move several times in seven weeks had caused distress, particularly for her neurodiverse son who has found it "really difficult" and was "continuously asking" if they had to move again.

"Having to constantly move and having to prepare him for that, given everything he'd been through already, he really did struggle," she said.

Hotchkiss said the new house would feel like home in time, but the incident remained "raw" in their memory.

She said: "My son is really struggling with the trauma of what happened.

"Whenever the weather changes you just see him freeze and school say when it's raining and windy, he's been crying in class."

She said trying to get her son specialist support was proving "quite difficult".

The Met Office issued a red weather warning, meaning there was a danger to life, for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and 99mph (159km/h) gusts were recorded on 8 January.

The large tree that fell was reported to Cornwall Council and inspected last year when it was assessed as being in a safe condition.

A council spokesperson said particularly strong winds appeared to have caused it to fall despite no prior indication of imminent risk.

It caused extensive damage to the roof and branches smashed through windows while they were inside.

Hotchkiss said she felt "inches from death" and the council has since cut down all the trees outside the property.

Hotchkiss said she had not dealt with the trauma she witnessed that night.

"I've had to compartmentalise everything because I've had to keep busy sorting everything," she said.

"I haven't had time to think about what could have happened and at some point it will hit me."

Hotchkiss believes the council needs to do more frequent checks in areas with old trees, rather than every six months.

"I will never ever forget the 8th of January," she added.

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