As one woman set out for her morning run along London’s River Thames on Monday, the unthinkable happened. As she approached Barn Elms Boathouse on the south side of the river, she was struck by a falling tree.
Runner rushed to hospital after tree falls on her on Thames Path in south London https://t.co/xFNgEFht03
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According to BBC News, paramedics were called to the scene at around 7:20 a.m. to treat the injured runner. When they arrived, she was reportedly being assisted by one of the rowing coaches from the nearby club. She was then rushed to a local hospital.
The incident occurred on the Putney Towpath, a 10-kilometre stretch of the 296-kilometre Thames Path that runs through southwest London. The section of the path near the boathouse was closed for much of the morning while authorities worked to remove the tree and ensure the area was safe for public use.
Authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the condition of the tree prior to its fall.
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According to Nature Net, the odds of being struck by a falling tree while walking or running are roughly one in 20 million. Although London had experienced windier-than-usual weather in the days leading up to the accident, there were no extreme weather warnings in place at the time.
The condition of the injured runner has not been publicly confirmed.
