Source: Newcastle Herald
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A SIGN, estimated to be 70 kilograms, fell onto a person’s head at Charlestown on Tuesday night – just one of many serious incidents caused by wild weather in the Hunter region.
Paramedics confirmed they took the individual to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition about 6.30pm after receiving reports the large sign had dropped on the man’s head in Smart Street.
A witness who dialled Triple-0 said that the sign weighed 70 kilograms.
Winds ranged from about 60 to 80 km/h in the Hunter on Tuesday, bringing with them a chill factor that made it feel as though it was only 3 degrees in Newcastle.
Hunter region controller for the State Emergency Service Greg Perry said they’d had 110 call-outs on Tuesday.
“They were for things like trees down, trampolines flying over fences, house tiles flying off and skylights broken,” he said.
DO YOU HAVE PHOTOS OF WHAT THE WIND DID? Email online.media@theherald.com.au.
A kite surfer was having surgery at John Hunter Hospital last night after suffering critical head injuries while out on the water at Long Jetty.
A friend told police the 25-year-old slammed into the jetty at 100km/h after losing control.
He was flown to John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter Westpac Rescue Helicopter with severe head injuries where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
An old disused petrol station in Stockton had one of its walls cave in after receiving a bashing from the strong wind gusts in the afternoon.
There were multiple crashes on the road as well, one woman was trapped in her vehicle on Mcfarlanes Road in Chisholm about 6pm after it collided with a pole.
The New England Highway was closed in both directions between Johnson Street and High Street in Maitland until 6.30pm due to a damaged building sign and debris on the road.
Ausgrid reported that power outages were suffered in New Lambton, Gillieston Heights, Heddon Greta and parts of Beresfield.
Weatherwatch director Don White called it a trademark start to winter.
He said the maximum wind gust of the day in the Hunter was 95km/h, recorded at Williamtown at 1.30pm.
“It’s been the first day of the strong westerlies; it’s a trademark of the start of the winter season,” he said.
“It will be another windy day in Newcastle tomorrow, but won’t be quite as strong as today.”
The strong winds felt by south eastern NSW were caused by an intense low pressure system near Tasmania moving through the Bass Straight.