Woman Hospitalised as Severe Winds Bring Down Tree in Surry Hills

A Surry Hills woman remains in hospital after she came into contact with live power lines when severe winds caused a large tree to crash across Bourke Street this afternoon.

The dramatic incident unfolded during severe weather conditions that battered Sydney’s inner suburbs, with the fallen tree bringing down power lines, crushing multiple vehicles and damaging several properties along the street.

NSW Ambulance crews treated the woman, believed to be in her 30s, at the scene before transporting her to St Vincent’s Hospital in a stable condition for ongoing monitoring.

The collapsed tree has left approximately 50 local businesses and residences without power, including the well-known Bourke Street Bakery. Energy provider Ausgrid has indicated the outage should be resolved within hours.

The tree’s fall has caused significant damage to the streetscape, with parked cars crushed beneath its branches and at least one property currently listed for sale among those affected by the incident.

Emergency services, including Fire and Rescue NSW and energy crews, have been working at the scene throughout the afternoon to make the area safe and begin restoration work.

The incident comes as Sydney experienced a particularly violent bout of weather today, with the Bureau of Meteorology having warned residents about strong and potentially damaging westerly to north-westerly winds across greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Southern Highlands and Blue Mountains.

The NSW State Emergency Service had urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and secure loose items ahead of the wild weather, which was expected to ease during the early evening.

Weather-related incidents were reported across Sydney throughout the afternoon, demonstrating the widespread impact of today’s conditions on the city’s infrastructure and residents.

Published 12-October-2025