Emergency services with the crushed van

by Chris Hunter

A witness has told how the passenger
in a van crushed by a falling tree was saved - by his lighter.

The driver, named as 51-year-old
Christopher Hayes this afternoon, died when an oak tree fell on the
vehicle in high winds that battered Kent yesterday.

Unemployed builder Gary Heasman pulled
the passenger from the wreckage, in Tunbridge Wells.

The 34-year-old told how the man
miraculously escaped injury - after leaning forward to pick up a
lighter he had dropped in the footwell at the exact moment the tree
fell.

Mr Heasman, below and who lives
in nearby Sherwood Close, said: "He said he'd just finished lunch
and was about to get out to have a fag, but he'd dropped his
lighter. Smoking saved his life."

Mr Hayes, of Kings Road,
Tonbridge, was pronounced dead at the scene in Sandhurst Road
at about 12.25pm.

He was described by police
as a widely-known local businessman who owned a firm of builders
established for more than 30 years.

He leaves behind a partner to whom he
was married for 26 years, a son and two daughters

Kent Police closed the road until 8pm
and evacuated some residents to allow emergency services to
clear the scene and deal with another tree on the road also at risk
of falling.

Kent Police’s Serious Collision
Investigation Unit is investigating the circumstances of the crash
with the Coroners Office and a post mortem will be held
tomorrow.

The date of the inquest is yet to be
set. Witnesses are urged to phone 01622 798538.

The scene of the van crush in Tunbridge Wells

The incident came as high winds battered many parts of Kent
yesterday, but the Met Office said it didn't expect such severe
weather today.

But it will still be breezy with gusts reaching up to 40mph and
on the coast up to 50mph. Temperatures are set to reach 8C.

Yesterday saw another tree fall in the road in a separate
incident on the A249, between Penenden Heath Road and Holland Road,
Maidstone.

A tree crashed into a
house in Wainscott, near Strood

The owners of a house in Wainscott, near Strood, had a
lucky escape when a tree smashed through their roof.

High winds felled the tree opposite Aime Lodge, Common Road,
just after lunchtime yesterday.

The house was left standing, but the roof had been badly
damaged. No one was injured.

The A20 was closed London-bound between Ashford and Charing due to
a fallen tree. The silver birch came down close to Orchard
Heights.

The A20 was closed between Ashford and Charing

A lost seal was among the victims of
the bad weather. Battered by storm force winds and heavy seas, it
sought refuge in Folkestone's Marine
Crescent.

The seal, thought to be about 18
months old, lay in the road and refused to budge. Two drivers tried
to shepherd it back to the beach with their cars.

One man then wrapped it in a towel and ferried it to Folkestone
Harbour, where it was left to rest and return to the sea at high
tide.

A lost seal sought refuge in Folkestone's Marine Crescent.

Meanwhile, the Port of Dover was
closed to ferries yesterday as severe weather battered Kent's
coast. One ship docked three hours late because of the
rough seas.

The port was re-opened at about 2pm, but passengers still face
disruption and are advised to check before they travel.

The severe weather warning in place for Kent also forced
the closure of the QE2 bridge, causing
delays of up to an hour-and-a-half for drivers using the M25.

Southbound traffic used the east tunnel and northbound traffic
was diverted through the west tunnel.

But the bridge also reopened at 3.30pm.

The QE2 bridge at Dartford was closed because of high winds

Even Rochester Castle succumbed to the storms today. Safety concerns forced the

closure of the Norman ruins, although the grounds and shop remained

open as winds lashed the Medway Towns.

A road in Folkestone was blocked for
several hours today by a fallen tree which covered both lanes of
Cherry Garden Avenue (below).

Meanwhile, the bad weather caused delays for Southeastern
train passengers.