Man, 20, crushed and killed by falling tree while trying to flee Storm Eowyn

A 20-year-old man was on the phone to his dad trying to flee Storm Eowyn when a tree fell and killed him.

Kacper Dudek was trying to drive to safety when his car was crushed beneath the tree which was uprooted in record breaking 114mph winds.

He was driving with a friend when they had to turn the car around after coming across a road accident in in Feddyglass, Raphoe, County Donegal.

But a tree suddenly fell on them as they made a U-turn, and Mr Dudek died at the scene.

He was born in Poland but raised in Lifford, Donegal, the Mirror reports.

Mr Dudek was reportedly on the phone to his father when the accident occurred.

His school, Holy Cross College, added: ‘The Holy Cross College community sends our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of our past student, Kacper Dudek who has sadly passed away.

‘May Kacper’s gentle soul rest in peace.’

Police said: ‘Gardaí in Raphoe continue to investigate the fatal road traffic incident that occurred at Feddyglass, Raphoe, Donegal on Friday morning 24th January 2025 which resulted in the death of Kacper Dudek (20).

‘The body of the deceased man has been removed from the scene to the mortuary in Letterkenny University Hospital where a post mortem examination will take place in due course.

‘Garda Forensic Collision Investigators are conducting a full examination of the scene this morning.

‘A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to provided support to the family of Mr Dudek (RIP). Investigations ongoing.’

Storm Eowyn swept across Ireland yesterday, with one million homes losing power.

Even as the storm drifts into the Norwegian Sea, the Met Office has issued a raft of fresh yellow weather warnings for strong wind, snow and ice.

There will be at least one yellow warning – which means the weather is ‘likely’ to cause an impact – from today until Tuesday.

A new warning is in place in Northern Ireland and western Scotland for wind, snow and ice from 6pm to 10am the following day. About 10cm of slush will form in the Scottish Highlands, forecasters say.

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