Husband pays tribute to ‘perfect’ wife crushed by falling tree in Storm Eunice
'I'm heartbroken. In many ways I died as well. We were inseparable.'
A husband has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his ‘perfect wife’ after she was killed by a falling tree in north London.
Juliana Murilo, 37, was at work cleaning a house when Storm Eunice hit the capital with gale force winds on Friday.
Her husband Carlos picked her up in his silver Honda and was driving her home along Muswell Hill Road when the tree collapsed on top of the car.
Mr Murilo, 39, had to be cut from the car and was told his wife had died as he was rushed to hospital.
‘She was a sweet and adorable wife,’ he told the Evening Standard. ‘She was perfect, so friendly, always laughing and making jokes. We loved each other so much it was as if we were one.’
The cab driver escaped serious injury with cut hands and bruised ribs. He also revealed a passer-by held his hand and spoke to him in the immediate aftermath.
‘I’m heartbroken, I can’t get the scene out of my head,’ he added. ‘In many ways I died as well. We were inseparable.’
Mrs Murilo was one of four people who died in the UK and Ireland during Storm Eunice.
Jack Bristow, 23, was also killed by a falling tree in Alton, Hampshire. The dad-of-one was in the passenger seat of a Mercedes Benz pick-up van when a 40ft trunk crushed the vehicle.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
In a heartbreaking tribute, his girlfriend, Courtney Emmett, wrote: ‘Please God bring my love back to me. I love you Jack.’
One of his friends, Bradley Hall, said: ‘Jack was loved by everyone who’s met him and was always down for a chat. He was a proud father and a loving partner to his girlfriend. He was his mum’s precious lad and will never be forgotten about.’
Tributes were also paid to an Irish council worker who was killed by a falling tree as he cleared up debris left behind by the storm.
Billy Kinsella, 59, had been called out to reports of a tree blocking a road when tragedy struck in County Wexford.
His wife, Rita Kinsella, told the Independent.ie: ‘Nobody could ask for a better husband or father. It will be hard to digest. You know when you’re used to someone coming home in the evening time and today, suddenly, they are not there.’
The fourth victim was named as Stephen Matthews, 68, who died after debris struck his van windscreen in Netherton, Merseyside.
Stephen was pronounced dead at the scene, while the man driving the van was not injured.
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