Man died after tree fell on caravan during storm

A father died from suffocation after a large tree uprooted and fell on his caravan during Storm Goretti, an inquest heard.

James Southey, 50, was in his static caravan on a farm in Mawgan, near Helston, Cornwall, when the red weather warning of risk to life was issued for wind.

Southey, a father-of-two and gardener, was found dead on 9 January from suffocation after the tree trunk, deemed healthy in 2025, fell on top of his living area when wind speeds of up to 90mph (144km/h) were recorded.

The inquest heard he lived alone in the caravan on a farm for about a decade where he was "happy" and got on well with landowners and neighbours. The coroner concluded it was an accidental death.

Farmer Martin Williams told the hearing in Truro he saw Southey cooking his evening meal and a light from his log burner before there was a power cut.

He said: "We heard a noise that sounded like thunder, a loud rumbling noise."

He looked towards the caravan and could not see the light and went to the caravan but was unable to access it due to the size of the uprooted tree.

Williams said he cut his hand by smashing the window but was unable to get to the living area as it had been crumpled by the tree.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called to the scene and guarded the area overnight before teams could safely remove the tree and locate his body the following day.

Det Con Kirsty McNeill added emergency crews could not do more during the storm as there was a risk to their safety from live electrics, gas canisters, and other trees.

His sister Sam Southey, 52, said Southey had a real love was gardening and they spoke most days as they were from a close family.

The inquest heard the caravan was situated between two large trees and, in one, Southey had built a tree house for his children, and the trees had been checked the previous summer and deemed as healthy, with no maintenance needed.

An arborist said the tree and its canopy were healthy, but it was not a native tree and its roots were shallow, adding there was a lot of water in the area and the ground was sodden.

Assistant coroner Emma Hillson concluded Southey, who was born in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, died from suffocation caused by the weight of the trunk on his chest and recorded an conclusion of accidental death.

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