WATCH THIS: Massive winds blow pedestrian into oncoming traffic in terrifying scene
The pedestrian is thrusted onto the pavement from the winds. storyful
Dramatic footage from Wellington, New Zealand, captured the terrifying moment a woman was swept into oncoming traffic by powerful gale-force winds during a violent weather event.
Dashcam video recorded by motorist Justin Ashworth on Wednesday morning shows trees bending and traffic lights swaying as the woman cautiously approaches a crosswalk. Suddenly, a powerful gust lifts her off her feet, hurling her into the busy intersection.
Miraculously, two vehicles — a gray Toyota Prius and a black Volkswagen Golf — braked just in time, narrowly avoiding a tragedy.
The New Zealand MetService issued a rare red weather warning, cautioning residents of “severe threats to life from flying debris and falling trees” as damaging northwesterly gusts reaching up to 87 mph struck the nation.
“Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including power lines and roofs, dangerous driving conditions, and significant disruptions to transport and electricity,” the agency warned.
Officials urged residents to remain indoors or seek solid shelter away from trees, and to prepare for possible power and communication outages. Parts of the country’s western regions recorded between 3 and 7 inches of rain in just 24 hours, with forecasters warning that an even more severe system is expected to arrive by Thursday.
Around 9:20 a.m. local time Wednesday, emergency services responded to a report of a man critically injured by a falling branch in Mount Victoria, Wellington. He was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries. Police have urged the public to “take extreme care in the current weather conditions.”
Meanwhile, across the Tasman Sea, Australia is facing a contrasting weather crisis. Millions are enduring record-breaking heat across Queensland and New South Wales, with temperatures soaring to 115°F in the outback town of Birdsville on Tuesday — the hottest October day on record.
A heatwave warning remains in effect for regions including The Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West, Channel Country, and the Maranoa and Warrego Districts. Sydney is forecast to reach 102°F today, with forecasters warning of possible afternoon thunderstorms.
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