'It was scary': severe thunderstorm wreaks havoc in southwestern Ontario
A short but powerful thunderstorm that came through Southwestern Ontario Saturday, killing at least one person and injuring others.
OPP are reporting one person is deceased, and two others were injured when a tree fell on a camping trailer at Pinehurst Lake in Brant County.
At Cobble Hills Golf Club in Thamesford, Ont. three people suffered minor injuries when a tree fell onto a golf cart by the ninth tee.
Doug Breen, vice president of Golf North — which owns Cobble Hills — told CTV News that 9-1-1 was called after a man was trapped underneath a downed tree.
"A number of golfers frantically ran into the clubhouse to notify staff,” says Breen.
“The brave people ran back out into the storm to rescue him from underneath the tree. They managed to lift it enough to get him free."
A tree fell onto a golf cart at the Cobble Hills Golf Club in Thamesford, Ont. on May 21, 2022 as a severe thunderstorm passed through the region. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)In Old East Village (OEV) in London, Ont. there was major damage within a two-block radius.
"The wind was the most intense thing I've ever felt in my entire life," says Adam Steadman, a resident of OEV.
"It was just it was the power. The power was just incredible."
Downed trees and power lines had blocked Lorne Ave, and Princess Ave. as well as Ontario St.
Clay Fournier was taking photos of his car for insurance purposes after it was crushed by a tree.
"I was in the washroom getting ready to take off, heard some bangs and came checked it out and tree just came right out of the ground," says Fournier.
Clay Fournier takes photos of his car for insurance purposes after it was crushed by a tree on Princess Ave in London, Ont. on May 21, 2022. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)Just a few meters away around the corner on Ontario St. a tree had been ripped from the ground, breaking the sidewalk and landed on a home.
The man renting the house was too shaken to appear on camera for CTV News but did say he was in the front room of the home, just a few feet away from where the tree hit.
"My cats were going crazy, and if it was a few feet to the left, I could have been really hurt," he said.
On Princess Ave, Cherie Renders was home, when a tree broke off and landed on her roof.
"It was scary," says Renders.
A massive tree broke off and landed on this house on Princess Ave. in London, Ont. after severe thunderstorms on May 21, 2022. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)"It just started raining so I let the dogs in. I went to the front of the house and there's just trees on the whole side of my house.
So I called my husband and then he came from work and told me that it was on top of the roof and then there's a hole."
When her husband Steve returned, he noticed the tree had punctured the roof.
"There is three-by-three holes there roughly and they took off a couple of heat vents too," says Steve.
"It's hard to put my thoughts together now but honestly, I'm thankful to see friends and family out here to help out so that’s the encouraging part."
Across the city at the London International Airport, a plane owned by Diamond Aircraft Flight Centre was toppled over.
A plane belonging to Diamond Aircraft Flight Centre at the London International Airport was flipped over (Submitted)Stop lights were all over the city, as CTV News noticed power outages from Dundas and Adelaide, all the way near Dundas and Veterans Memorial.
Back in OEV, the cleanup was just getting underway.
"Everybody thinks that it can’t happen to you," says Steadman.
"With climate change, this is the new reality. It's intense, and you just have to be prepared."
A total of five fatalities have so far been reported as a result of the storm.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walking pneumonia is surging in Canada. Is it peaking now?
CTVNews.ca spoke with various medical experts to find out the latest situation with the typically mild walking pneumonia in their area and whether parents should be worried.
'Her shoe got sucked into the escalator': Toronto family warns of potential risk of wearing Crocs
A Toronto family is speaking out after their 10-year-old daughter's Crocs got stuck in an escalator, ripping the entire toe area of the clog off.
Prime Minister Trudeau attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Toronto with family
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a Swiftie. His office confirmed to CTV News Toronto that he and members of his family are attending the penultimate show of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' in Toronto on Friday evening.
The Thriftmas Special: The benefits of second-hand holiday shopping
The holidays may be a time for family, joy and togetherness, but they can also be hard on the wallet.
Afraid of losing the U.S.-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts
Mexico has been taking a bashing lately for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America, and officials here are afraid a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could try to leave their country out of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
Minister calls GST holiday, $250 cheques for 18 million Canadians 'a targeted approach'
Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien is calling the federal government's proposed GST holiday and $250 rebate cheques a 'targeted approach' to address affordability concerns.
Canada's tax relief plan: Who gets a cheque?
The Canadian government has unveiled its plans for a sweeping GST/HST pause on select items during the holiday period. The day after the announcement, questions remain on how the whole thing will work.
NEW Thinking about taking an 'adult gap year'? Here's what experts say you should know
Canadian employees are developing an appetite for an 'adult gap year': a meaningful break later in life to refocus, refresh and indulge in something outside their daily routine, according to experts.
UN talks in disarray as a rough draft deal for climate cash is rejected by developing nations
As nerves frayed and the clock ticked, negotiators from rich and poor nations were huddled in one room Saturday during overtime United Nations climate talks to try to hash out an elusive deal on money for developing countries to curb and adapt to climate change.