'It was scary': severe thunderstorm wreaks havoc in southwestern Ontario
'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
No 'warnings or second chances' for illegal activity on Canada Day: Ottawa mayor
Ottawa's mayor is warning the city won't tolerate any illegal activity downtown during Canada Day festivities this year, as the city prepares for possible protests.

Ukrainian officials: at least 2 dead, 20 injured as Russian missile hits Kremenchuk mall
Ukrainian officials: at least 2 dead, 20 injured as Russian missile hits shopping center in central city of Kremenchuk.
Republican calls overturning Roe v. Wade a 'victory for white life'
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois, speaking at a rally Saturday night with former U.S. President Donald Trump, called the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade a 'victory for white life.'
'Deepest apologies': Central Alberta rodeo organizers shocked by parade float
Organizers of a central Alberta rodeo and its parade committee are calling for calm after a float in this weekend's parade, which possessed a racist theme, was seen in the procession.
Canada outperformed most G10 countries during first two years of pandemic response: study
Canada handled key aspects of the COVID-19 response better in the first two years of the pandemic than most G10 countries, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Toronto, Unity Health Toronto and St. Michael's hospital.
South Africa tavern deaths: 21 teens likely killed by something they drank, ate or smoked
South African authorities investigating 21 teenagers found dead at an east coast tavern over the weekend said on Monday the youths were probably killed by something they ate, drank or smoked, ruling out the earlier-touted possibility of a stampede.
Ukraine's richest man sues Russia at Europe's top human rights court
Ukraine's richest man filed a lawsuit against Russia at Europe’s top human rights court on Monday, seeking compensation over what he has said are billions of dollars in business losses since Russia's invasion.
New federal task force to review government service delays, reduce wait times
The federal government has created a special task force to help tackle the major delays with immigration applications and passport processing that have left Canadians frustrated.
Cuts to health care, geography limit abortion access in Canada: advocate
Abortion may be legal in Canada but accessing services very much depends on where you live, one advocate says.