The 100-year-old pohutukawa branch fell across Julie Paterson's driveway. Photo: Facebook/Hutt Valley security noticeboard
Lower Hutt's Julie Paterson is still recovering from what she describes as a near-death experience from a falling tree branch.
Paterson said it was blowing a gale, when she stepped outside earlier Thursday and heard a loud crack.
"[I saw] this huge branch cracking and falling and I was like, 'Holy moly, that's coming straight for me'. I just turned and started running the other way."
She said the 100-year-old pohutukawa branch crashed to the ground mere feet from her and thought it would have been 'game over', if it had struck her.
"I don't think I would be here," Paterson said. "That main part of it - the trunk - was quite big, solid.
"You know, if any part of that had hit me, I would've been a goner, for sure."
Paterson said she was panicking after the near-miss.
"I went and poured myself a nice glass of wine, and it was very early.
"I needed something to calm my nerves, I was shaking. This tree fell and landed from about 2-3 feet from where I was standing."
