A tree fallen in the garden of the Andrade family causing damage to the marque of birthday boy Jake.; l/r Heidi , Kristy and Jake Andrade , Jasmin Leary.

Lucky escape as tree falls before party

By Elliot Furniss, Mid Suffolk Reporter Monday, August 30, 2010
6:00 AM

A FAMILY had a lucky escape after a tree fell down into their garden, just hours before it was due to be filled with people celebrating a child’s eighth birthday.

Fortunately nobody was injured when the 25ft tree toppled into the garden of the Andrade family’s house in Edgecomb Road, Stowmarket, at noon yesterday.

The falling tree, which had been standing for years next to a pathway, caused damage to a fence, garage and even flattened two gazebos that would have been packed when the party began at 4pm.

Nelson Andrade, 33, said he and his family, including wife Heidi, 36, and children Jake, eight, and Kristy, 10, had been fortunate to avoid injury – but the pet rabbit may not be so lucky.

He said: “My fence is all down, a playhouse we have in the back garden is pretty much ruined, part of the garage and probably the rabbit’s hutch too.

“It is a huge tree, very big and taller than the house.”

Mr Andrade’s son Jake was all set to have his eighth birthday celebrations take place in two gazebos, both of which were damaged by the tree.

The family had to hold the festivities inside the house as they waited for workmen to come and remove the tree.

Mr Andrade, who is from New York but works for the US Department of Defense at RAF Mildenhall, said he was the only person out in the garden when the tree started to fall.

He said: “When I heard a crack I ran – I just ran, but luckily everybody was inside still at that point.

“We are still having the neighbours around. We are not going to have the party outdoors.’’

He said the tree had blocked off access to the rabbit hutch, so he was uncertain if the pet had been harmed.