'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
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.