A mother has described feeling fortunate to have survived after being struck on the head by a large tree branch that snapped during severe weather conditions. Nina Lunn, 42, was walking through Allestree Park in Derby at approximately 11:00 BST on Sunday, 25 October, when Storm Boelo brought wind gusts exceeding 50mph across the East Midlands. According to BBC News, the impact caused bleeding and concussion that required hospital treatment.
Medical staff at the hospital expressed surprise at her survival. "The hospital staff said 'wow, you're lucky to be here'. The paramedics were actually quite worried, especially because my blood pressure was very high," Lunn told the BBC. She reflected on the incident's broader implications, stating:
It just shows how dangerous the weather can be.
The Met Office had warned that Storm Boelo would bring widespread gusts of 60–70mph in amber-warning areas, with gusts up to 80mph in exposed coastal locations. A yellow wind warning for Derbyshire ran from midday on Saturday, 24 October, until 21:00 on Sunday, 25 October, cautioning of possible injuries from flying debris and damage from fallen branches or trees.
Lunn has long valued outdoor activity as part of her daily routine. She explained that she had been a keen walker since childhood and considered getting outdoors multiple times daily essential for managing her ADHD. The incident occurred on the weekend of her birthday, when she had decided to venture out for a brief walk before celebrating with family in Yorkshire, despite the severe weather conditions.
She took precautions by staying on designated footpaths rather than entering wooded areas.
I stuck to the footpaths because of the storm, thinking that I'd be OK. I wasn't in the woods or anything,she said. While communicating with a friend through her headphones, she heard the tree snap but had no time to take evasive action.
The impact was violent and immediate.
My teeth shattered together. Then I could just feel the blood dripping down my face. I panicked,Lunn recounted. The force knocked her to the ground, and her wireless earbuds were dislodged.
My AirPods had been knocked out of my ears. I managed to grab my phone and tell my friend 'how fast can you get to Allestree Park? I need you'.
She used her fleece sleeve as a makeshift bandage to control the bleeding. A woman pushing a pram soon approached and offered assistance. Lunn recognised how narrowly a tragedy had been averted:
Had it been 30 seconds previous, it could have got the baby, and to be honest, I am lucky to be here.The paramedics who responded expressed serious concern about her condition.
The paramedics were actually quite worried, especially because my blood pressure was very high. The swelling on my face, the left side of my head is quite bad.
Lunn was transported to the accident and emergency department at Royal Derby Hospital, where medical staff treated her head wound with adhesive closure and assessed her injuries. She returned to the hospital on Monday with persistent concussion, facial swelling, blurred vision and elevated blood pressure. A Royal Derby Hospital spokesperson commented on her recovery, stating:
We're very happy to hear that Nina is doing well after what must have been a really frightening experience.
The teaching assistant attempted to resume her walking routine on Tuesday but found herself overwhelmed with anxiety.
I felt 'really, really nervous'she explained, and decided to spend the remainder of the school half-term holiday recovering at home. She expressed disappointment at the disruption to her plans:
I've been ill every single half-term for the last year and was really excited to have a good one, but it's just not been meant to be.
What safety advice is being given?
The Met Office has advised people to remain indoors as much as possible during stormy weather conditions. For those who must venture outside, the organisation recommends avoiding walking or sheltering in close proximity to buildings and trees, as these locations present heightened risk during high-wind events.
Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees,the Met Office stated.
Storm Boelo's wider impact
Lunn's incident forms part of a broader pattern of damage caused by Storm Boelo across the United Kingdom. The severe weather system has resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread disruption. According to BBC News reporting on the storm's effects, a 60-year-old man was killed by a falling tree as Storm Boelo battered Scotland and northern England with winds exceeding 85mph, leaving more than 82,000 properties without power. Major public events have been cancelled and rail services have experienced significant disruption as the severe weather continues across affected regions.
