THE owner of a boat destroyed by a massive falling oak tree has told how his girlfriend tried to save his friend's life by holding his head above the rising tide as he lay in the wreckage.

Lee Moody, owner of the houseboat on Sailor's Creek, told the Packet that the falling oak sounded like a 'massive earthquake' as it collapsed onto his boat at around 5pm last night.

His friend Paul Welch died in the accident, although the name has not been officially confirmed. He is well known for restoring a classic boat and was originally from Plymouth but is now thought to live with his family near Rame.

"The tree fell completely down and smashed our boat up took our mast down," said Mr Moody. "It was like a massive earthquake, then a massive smash and it was a massive oak tree that’s down."

Falmouth Packet:

In the boat with him was his girlfriend and friend who died in the smash after being crushed by the falling tree. The whole thing was also witnessed by the Mr Welch's young daughter

Mr Moody said he'd just come out of hospital after an operation and couldn't get down to help his friend as his girlfriend tried to save Mr Welch.

"I couldn’t get down to help, so my girlfriend went down and was trying to save him with the tide coming in trying to hold his head up out of the water. It was coming in around him he was all crushed. He had his daughter watching it all."

He said neither he nor his girlfriend were injured but she was really 'cut up' about what had happened.

Falmouth Packet:

First light revealed how the massive Oak tree crashed over 20 feet down a steep embankment by the public footpath onto the boat below.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be identified, said he was in his boat when he heard a 'shattering' crash. He ran up the embankment and could hear lots of shouting and people with torches.

He said a number of trees had fallen down on the houseboats over the years with one even falling on his.

All the emergency services were called and attended the scene.

Read here: Man dies near Flushing after reports of being 'trapped under a tree'

Police say they were called by the fire service at 5.45pm on Saturday, January 2 to Flushing following reports that a tree had fallen and a man on the beach had been injured.

Coastguard and the RNLI Lifeboat also attended the scene and the man was brought to shore where he was seen by paramedics.

The man, in his 50s, was confirmed deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

A police spokesperson said: “At this time the death is not being treated as suspicious, but as an accidental death. We are carrying out enquiries today and in due course a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 617 02/01/2021.

Accident scene investigators moved onto the site this morning to try and work out what happened and are requesting that locals avoid the area, particularly for walking.