A series of terrifying incidents has ensured that the potential danger posed by large trees in caravan parks and campsites has stayed firmly in the spotlight.
In the last few weeks alone, there have been several ‘scares’ that should be enough to persuade even the most cavalier of grey nomads to cast a wary eye upwards before setting up camp.
Echuca man Matt Pitts can consider himself pretty lucky to be alive after he was struck by a large falling tree branch at a holiday park in the New South Wales town of Deniliquin, close to the border with Victoria.
Mr Pitts was left with four fractured ribs, fractures to his spine and his right leg, a punctured lung and severe bruising.
However, he told the Pastoral Times newspaper that he was still surprised the branch — which he said was similar in size to a telephone pole — did not kill him.
Mr Pitts was catching up with friends sitting at a table under a shelter adjacent their caravan, when the branch fell.
‘‘I couldn’t see anything, but I heard this almighty crack,” he told the Pastoral Times. ‘‘The lady sitting opposite me said by the time I stood up, the tree just slammed down on top of me … I remember thinking I was dead, and I must have gone out (lost consciousness) for a few seconds.”
Witnesses told the Pastoral Times that the massive red gum branch fell with such force it snapped the rolled steel joists of the shelter in half, causing the roof and the tree to collapse on top of their friend.
Mr Pitts said while doctors did not believe he would have permanent physical damage as a result of the incident, he was not sure he would ever be the same again.
‘‘But I will never be able to go back (to the caravan park) or sit under a tree again,” he said. ‘‘I keep hearing that cracking noise — every minute of the day.”
While Mr Pitts said that what happened to him was a ‘‘freak accident’, it was a timely reminder to everyone about the danger of being close to large trees in windy conditions.
It’s a lesson that visitors at the Surfside Holiday Park in Warrnambool have already learned.
The Warrnambool Standard reports that nervous campers there complained about a dangerous tree allegedly dropping large branches, potentially endangering campers.
Shortly afterwards, an arborist entered the park to attend to the large Norfolk pine tree in question.
Earlier this month, a group of campers in Victoria seemingly had an incredibly lucky escape after a massive tree fell within inches of their set-up. The tree reportedly fell at the Yarrawonga Common camping ground, crushing a Subaru Outback 4WD and a tent.
Trees may be particularly prone to dropping a limb or falling when they are under stress. This stress may include: high wind; extreme temperatures or sudden changes in temperature; drought; fire; compaction; and flood.
Experts at Parks Victoria say that when a tree falls there is no way of predicting which way it will fall so it is important to stay clear of trees in all directions.
They say a limb falling from a tree often does not fall straight down. The limbs may bounce against other limbs and swing out well beyond the drip line (the edge of the canopy) of the tree.
Easy to fix, cut down all trees in caravan parks and watch site fees go up when people use their airconditioning
What are my rights as far as a tree in my permenant site is brushing on the roof of my van keepinp me awake