Man narrowly avoids being crushed after tree falls on top of neighbour's home during Storm Kathleen

A man narrowly avoided being crushed after a tree fell on top of a house in Edinburgh during wild winds.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) raced to Groathill Road North at around 12.55pm on Saturday, after a large tree fell on top of a house.

Scotland was battered with winds of up to 76mph during Storm Kathleen at the weekend, which caused disruption and flooding.

Colin Herkes, who lives next door to the house, was sitting in his lean (a gazebo like structure) in the back garden with his wife when “it went dark”.

“We were sat in our lean to outside our back door, which is a wooden enclosed shelter”, he told STV News.

“The tree came down and luckily it was tall enough that it hit the building.”

Colin's 73-year-old neighbour is struggling to access his house. — Colin’s 73-year-old neighbour is struggling to access his house. Colin Herkes via Supplied

The tree landed on Colin’s upstairs neighbours doorway – a 93-year-old man – meaning he is having difficulty accessing the house.

Colin added: “It landed above my upstairs neighbours doorway, so the branches etc are resting on his steps.

“We cut them back so he has access to his house, at no point was a tree surgeon involved. It’s just neighbours helping to make sure he was okay.”

Colin and his neighbour are now attempting to cut down the tree – which wasn’t covered by insurance – and avoid “extortionate” amounts which are being quoted.

He said: “Unfortunately we just found out insurance isn’t covering it and he is now trying to find someone to help that is not going to charge extortionate amounts.

“One person is quoting £1,500.”

The tree is not insured. Colin Herkes via Supplied

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a tree falling onto a property on Groathill Road North on Saturday, April 6 at 12.55pm.

“One appliance was sent to the property but the team left the site in a safe condition after a tree surgeon attended the incident.”

More weather warnings for wind and rain have been issued across the country following the disruption caused by Storm Kathleen.