Storm Ciara strikes elderly and disabled, injuring woman inside retirement housing

Storm Ciara made care workers’ jobs even harder by felling trees and hospitalising a woman who was hit by a glass wall that crashed into the reception of a retirement complex.

Residents standing inside the reception area of retirement housing were forced to flee for safety after a giant glass window frame collapsed.

Firefighters were called at 11.12 am on Sunday, February 9 to Sheffield’s Roman Ridge retirement living complex.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) stated: 'Firefighters and fire officers attended a number of incidents over the weekend to assist with the damage being caused by Storm Ciara. This included helping at an incident where a full window frame was blown into a care home.'

Three fire engines from Rotherham, Parkway and Elm Lane were in attendance and fire crews gave first aid to a woman before she was taken by ambulance to hospital.

Fire crews remained on the scene until 1.35pm.

A spokesman for Sanctuary Housing, which runs the retirement living apartments, said: “The window damaged by the extreme weather conditions is being securely boarded up and we will arrange for permanent repairs to be carried out as soon as possible."

“We can reassure residents that our maintenance staff will be working with external contractors to inspect the rest of the building to ensure that it remains safe.”

On Twitter, @GaryRidgeway tweeted: 'Lucky escape for residents in this care home in Sheffield, the force of the wind blew this giant picture window into a communal area, one of many incidents @SYFR attended today as storm Ciara batters South Yorkshire.'

Tree blocks road access to care home

The storm wreaked havoc across much of the UK with care workers battling the elements to reach the disabled and elderly living alone as fallen trees, floods and power cuts affected much of the country.

In Bishop's Stortford, a tree came crashing down, blocking Thorley Lane East and barring access to the Premier Court care home, run by Bupa.

Premier Court care home receptionist Kellie Darker said: “A tree came down in the road early this morning but thankfully the road was cleared so that care workers could get access when they got in at 8.45am this morning.

“We have about 30 residents with a variety of needs including people receiving end-of-life care.

“Everyone is safe. We are operating as normal."

Thousands of homes across the UK remain without power as Storm Ciara battered many parts of the country.

Widespread flooding has affected homes of the elderly and disabled people.

Many home care providers took to Twitter to praise care workers for their heroic efforts to make sure elderly and disabled were safe.

Home Instead Senior Care East Hertfordshire @HISCEastHerts tweeted: 'A HUGE thanks to all our CAREGivers and our weekend oncall Sarah.'

Sarah Fish, office manager at home care provider Bluebird Care Newark, said: “The team at Bluebird Care Newark always go above and beyond to ensure customers are supported – whatever the weather. This weekend, all our care assistants attended every single one of their calls.

"One of them doesn’t even drive and she managed to get to her customers on her bike or with the help of colleagues who stepped in to drive her to her calls if needed.”

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