Many individuals are fortunate to have survived after a massive fig tree collapsed on top of them during strong winds in the heart of Sydney, causing chaos on a major city street.
Two people were reportedly injured when the large tree in Hyde Park fell onto a footpath and onto a busy street around 3pm on Friday.
Police officers who arrived first at the scene urgently searched through the debris to check if anyone was trapped underneath.
Fortunately, emergency services confirmed that no one sustained serious injuries.
Two individuals with minor injuries were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment, as per a spokesperson from NSW Ambulance.
The tree, located on the park’s perimeter near St James station, seemed to have split in two before falling onto the nearby footpath.
Witnesses reported that two people were struck by branches and knocked to the ground, prompting bystanders to rush to their aid.
One witness, identified as Chris, recounted hearing the tree crack and witnessing it fall on a woman as he walked along Elizabeth St.
“There was a sudden gust of wind and the tree just came crashing down,” he told AAP. “A woman was right in the middle of it. If she had been a few meters back or forward, the outcome could have been much worse.
“Luckily, she only suffered a few scratches and walked away. It’s such a busy area, but everyone managed to escape unharmed.”
Emergency services, including multiple ambulance crews, were present at the scene, with police redirecting traffic as the fallen tree obstructed two southbound lanes.
Police rescue teams were considering cutting the tree into pieces to clear the road.
Staff from the nearby Sheraton hotel rushed to assist the victims and search for any other potential injuries.
Spectators were cautioned to steer clear of other trees due to concerns that they might also topple over.
