A MAN has tragically died after his caravan was struck by a tree during Storm Goretti.
The victim, in his 50s, was sadly discovered dead in the mobile home in Helston, Cornwall, yesterday.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the Mawgan area just after 7.30pm on Thursday.
The following day, teams battled to remove the fallen tree and debris from the caravan.
Cops then tragically discovered the victim’s body during a search of the vehicle.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the man’s family had been informed of the tragedy.
The force said: “Emergency services were called to the Mawgan area of Helston at around 7.35pm on January 8 after a tree fell onto a caravan.
“Work took place at the scene on Friday 9 January to safely remove the tree and make further enquiries at the scene.
“Tragically, a man aged in his 50s was located deceased within the caravan.
“His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Thursday and Friday saw the worst of the damage inflicted by Storm Goretti – with the south west issued a rare red weather warning.
Almost 70,000 homes were left without power as fierce gales, torrential rain and snow battered the UK.
In Cornwall – where effects of the storm were being worst felt – 100mph wind brought down power lines and trees.
There were just under 70,000 homes without power across the UK, according to the National Grid’s map of outages.
And around 48,000 of those were located across the south west coast.
The Met Office said: “Storm Goretti will bring a period of exceptionally strong northwesterly winds to the Isles of Scilly and parts of Cornwall…
“…with peak gusts of 80-100 mph or more in exposed areas.
“Winds are expected to increase rapidly from 30-40 mph with violent gusts that may persist for 2-3 hours before easing.
“Winds will remain strong with the broader yellow warning in force until Friday morning.”
The red weather warning lasted from 4pm until 11pm on Thursday evening.
More than half a million people in red warning zones saw their phones ring with emergency alerts ahead of the weather chaos.
