In a heart-stopping moment captured on dashcam, a woman walking toward a Wellington intersection was suddenly blasted by a ferocious wind gust, propelling her forward into the street where she tumbled and rolled perilously close to oncoming vehicles. The footage, shared widely online, shows the sheer force of nature at play during Tuesday’s orange-level strong wind warning—no injuries were reported for the woman, but the event underscored the dangers lurking in the gale.
This near-disaster occurred as Wellington, New Zealand’s windiest city, endured over 12 hours of gusts exceeding 40 mph at the airport, with a peak of 62 mph. The same storm turned tragic elsewhere: a man was critically injured by a falling branch in a suburb and later succumbed to his injuries, according to police reports.
“It could have been any of us,” said a walker who discovered the victim on Mount Victoria.
Viewers of the viral video expressed horror and relief online, with many commenting on the close call and praising quick driver reactions that averted disaster. Influencers and locals alike warned of Wellington’s unpredictable weather.
With MetService issuing another strong wind warning for Thursday, this incident serves as a stark reminder: respect the elements, secure loose items, and think twice before stepping out—Mother Nature doesn’t mess around.
Sources: Stuff.co.nz, NZ Herald