Shocking CCTV footage has captured a dramatic moment in Bath when a dog walker narrowly escaped injury after a massive tree branch broke off and fell.
Yuan Zhang was walking her cockapoo in Locksbrook Cemetery, Lower Weston, on the evening of May 26 when she heard an alarming cracking sound from a nearby tree. Recognizing the danger, she immediately picked up her dog and left the area just seconds before the enormous branch came crashing down beside her.
Normally, Yuan wears headphones during her walks, but on this rainy day she had left them off — a decision she now credits with saving her life. “I heard the cracking and knew a branch was going to fall, but I didn’t expect it to be that large or fall so quickly,” she shared. “My dog was very close to the tree, so I grabbed her and moved away right away.”
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The incident was recorded on CCTV by the New Crown Inn pub across the road. Pub manager Charlotte Symonds described the sound as “like gunshots” and said the whole event was “terrifying.” She remarked that it could have been far worse if anyone had been walking or driving under the tree at that time.
Charlotte recounted hearing loud noises outside during a heavy downpour at about 7:30 p.m., initially thinking something was being thrown. When the crashing sounds escalated, her partner checked outside but saw nothing until the emergency responders arrived. The off-duty ambulance crew stopped traffic until the police arrived around 10 minutes later.
Although shaken, Yuan was unharmed. She noted the CCTV angle made it look like she was nearer to the tree than she actually was — she was about a meter away when the branch fell. This, along with no pedestrians or cars being present, contributed to what she calls her “lucky escape.”
Councillor Manda Rigby from Bath and North East Somerset Council confirmed the tree showed signs of structural weakness that were not detectable during the last inspection in June of the previous year. “Exceptional heat followed by heavy rainfall likely caused this unforeseeable event,” she explained.
The council’s tree team responded swiftly, conducting further maintenance works to ensure public safety. Regular inspections and routine maintenance remain ongoing for thousands of trees within the area to prevent similar incidents.
This close call serves as a powerful reminder to stay alert during walks, especially around older trees — a simple moment of awareness can make all the difference.