By Cronan Scanlon
A St Johnston grandmother narrowly escaped with her life during Tuesday night's fierce storm after a giant tree crushed her car seconds after she got out of it.
Madge Lynch (68) had just alighted from her little red Opel Corsa at the rear of her cottage in Maymore, St Johnston during the height of the storm at around 10.30pm.
"I parked the car at the back of the house, got out and was putting the key in to the back door when I heard a massive gushing noise. The next thing I felt was branches brushing against my arm and leg and I heard a loud bang. I said to myself 'what's happening here' then the car lights went out and I made for the corner of the house on my hands and knees," a shocked Madge told the Strabane Chronicle.
The tree completely crushed Madge's car trapping all her shopping in the boot. She says she is very lucky to be alive
"It was pitch dark. I was on my hands and knees and in total shock and didn't know what was going on. My son Michael lives next door and I had just come from his house. I crawled around to the gable of the house and he came running down. Another couple of seconds and I would have been dead in that car. Its unbelievable that I am alive to tell the story. I consider myself a very lucky woman," she said.
Michael went around to the back of the house to inspect the damage and returned with the news that her car had been destroyed.
"He said the car was wrecked but I did not care about it as you can always replace a car but not a person's life," she added.
Madge says she is a very religious woman and believes God was looking down on her that night.
"I was at the hospital in Manorhamilton visiting my husband the other day and I lit candles in the Church for every member of the family. I count myself very very lucky and I will never get that near to a storm again".
Madge said she plans to get the tree cut for firewood to warm her home during the winter months.
She concluded that felt so lucky to be alive she would certainly try her luck with the Lotto on Wednesday night.
