Wild winds see islander's roof "impaled" by runaway trampoline

Monday 16 January 2023

Many islanders reported being unable to sleep last night as gusts of more than 50mph toppled trees and shredded shrubbery across across the island - but one St. Saviour resident was jolted awake when a rogue trampoline leg pierced her roof.

Briony Price, who lives near St. Saviour's Hospital, was woken up at 04:15 by a sudden, sharp bang and the sound of breaking glass.

Understandably alarmed, she looked out the window to see the cause of the commotion. With everything seemingly in order and no sign of damage, she headed back to bed. 

A little later on, she got a call from a neighbour, who said that they were missing a garden table and umbrella, and that it might have blown into her garden.

When she ventured outside to take a look, she had a bit of a shock: “I looked up, and I thought, 'Oh! Somebody, somewhere has lost a trampoline.'” 

Pictured: The trampoline leg stuck in Briony Price's roof.

The wayward trampoline is still embedded in Briony’s roof and has taken out a few rooftiles and her new sundial. 

“I have absolutely no idea who’s it is," she said. “There’s not many houses around where we are, so it’s a bit of a mystery as to where it has come from, or where the rest of it has gone for that matter.” 

Briony and her neighbour have spotted four poles dotted around the area, which they believe to be a full set. She says that anyone living in St. Saviour who notices they are short of a trampoline is welcome to contact her to get the poles back, noting that they can even have the one "that’s impaled in my roof tiles once the roofer has been tomorrow".

She posted a call-out on Facebook this afternoon, featuring a photo of offending trampoline pole.

While no one has come forward yet, several islanders have expressed their shock at the scene, with one commenting: "Jesus wept! That was lucky not to go through the window!"

Her roof wasn't the only one to sustain damage in last night's wild weather - Les Quennevais was forced to close today after the gale force winds pulled off some of its roof panels.

???? The Building at Les Quennevais has been damaged in the overnight winds and is closed for safety reasons. The Fire Service on the scene and members of the public are asked to please stay away. We will provide an update for our customers as soon as possible.???? pic.twitter.com/cQ2AJ9YpA7

— Les Quennevais SC (@LQSportsCentre) January 16, 2023

The Fire and Rescue Service and officers from Jersey Property Holdings visited the premises today, and it was decided that a closer inspection would be required tomorrow before the sports facility can be deemed safe to reopen.

Jersey Met predicts has tonight forecast winds of light Force 2 to 3, "then mainly east to southeast by midnight, occasionally moderate F4".