A man has tragically died after a tree fell onto his caravan during Storm Goretti, which brought destructive winds and heavy snow to parts of the United Kingdom.
Fatal Incident in Cornwall
Emergency services were called to the Mawgan area of Helston, Cornwall, at approximately 7.35pm on Thursday, 9 January 2026. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a large tree had collapsed onto a static caravan.
Following work to remove the tree on Friday, the body of a man, believed to be in his 50s, was discovered inside the vehicle. Authorities have stated his death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin have been informed.
Widespread Disruption from the Storm
The fatal incident occurred as Storm Goretti swept across the country, with forecasters issuing a rare red warning for "dangerous, stormy" winds in the South West. Gusts reached nearly 100mph, causing significant damage and disruption.
National Grid data showed that around 27,000 properties were without power in the South West by 9am on Saturday. Further outages affected nearly 2,300 homes in the West Midlands and about 300 in the East Midlands, though power was restored in Wales. Downing Street confirmed support was being offered to those affected.
The storm's impact extended to sports, with seven Football League matches in England and another seven in Scotland postponed. Racing at Warwick was also called off for the weekend.
Ongoing Weather Warnings and Forecast
Despite the storm moving away, the UK faces a continued risk from wintry conditions. The Met Office has multiple yellow warnings for snow and ice in force across the nation.
Significant snow accumulations were recorded, including 27cm at Altnaharra in Sutherland, Scotland, and 15cm at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys. A fresh weather system is expected to bring further snow, particularly to parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and northern England on Saturday evening and into Sunday.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell warned of a "messy transition" as milder air moves in next week, potentially leading to ice from refreezing slush. He advised the public to prepare for travel delays and hazardous conditions on roads and pavements.
Looking ahead, temperatures are predicted to rise significantly, with the south seeing highs of 9C to 11C and the north reaching 6C to 8C, marking an end to the recent severe cold spell.
