Agony of bride-to-be as fiancé, 24, is killed by falling tree during Storm Ali on his way to pick up wedding rings
- Robert Matthew Campbell, 24, died after incident at Slieve Gullion Forest Park
- It came as Co Armagh was hit by strong winds during Storm Ali on Wednesday
- His fiancée Robyn Newberry, 23, tried calling him six times but he didn’t answer
- Mr Campbell was one of two people to die in storm that brought 102mph gusts
Robert Matthew Campbell, 24, of Belfast, pictured with his fiancée Robyn Newberry, 23
The fiancée of an electrician killed by a falling tree during Storm Ali has revealed how the couple had been due to collect their wedding rings last night.
Robert Matthew Campbell, 24, died after he was hit by the tree at Slieve Gullion Forest Park in County Armagh during strong winds that hit Northern Ireland.
And his fiancée Robyn Newberry, 23, told today how she will now place her husband-to-be’s ring in his coffin following his death on Wednesday.
Miss Newberry told the Irish Independent: ‘I first realised that something was wrong when I tried to ring Matt around lunchtime and it kept going to the answering machine, which wasn’t like him. I tried calling him six times and there was no answer.
‘It wasn’t until I was leaving work that a police officer came to my workplace and told me there had been an accident and Matt hadn’t survived. I thought it was a joke, that he was just lying. We are just devastated – it doesn’t seem real.’
Firefighters at Slieve Gullion Forest Park in Co Armagh after the contractor was hit by a tree
Mr Campbell, from Belfast, was working on behalf of Northern Ireland Water at the time of the incident, while a colleague in his 40s was also injured in the tree fall.
The men were working for Lagan Construction Limited, on behalf of Northern Ireland Water, when the incident occurred.
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A spokesperson for the firm said: ‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our employees has passed away as a result of their injuries and that another employee has been seriously injured and is currently being treated in hospital.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the two families at this time. We are offering support and counselling services to colleagues and we continue to work closely with the statutory authorities.’
Damaged trees at Slieve Gullion Forest Park after the incident during Storm Ali on Wednesday
Sara Venning, the chief excutive of Northern Ireland Water, expressed the company’s deepest sympathies to Mr Campbell’s family.
She said: ‘This was a tragic incident and NI Water will continue to work with the statutory authorities and the contractor as they carry out their investigations.’
Mr Campbell’s former school, the Royal Belfast Academical Institute, have dedicated an award for ‘outstanding attendence’ in his honour following his death.
Janet Williamson, his former principal, said: ‘When he left school, in 2012, the school established an award for attendance, which as of the September 20, 2018 is renamed ‘The Matthew Campbell Award for Outstanding Attendance’ and will be rewarded each year, in his memory.’
Mr Campbell was working for Lagan Construction Limited, on behalf of Northern Ireland Water
Mr Campbell was one of two people who died in Storm Ali on Wednesday, with the other being a Swiss woman who died in a freak accident when her caravan was blown down a ledge to the seashore in County Galway.
Mother-of-three Elvira Ferrari, 56, had only arrived the previous day in Connemara when she got caught up in the violent storm which brought gusts of up to 102mph.
It is understood that Ms Ferrari had only arrived in Connemara the previous day when she rented a bike. She then went to Clifden Eco Beach Camping and Caravan Park and rented a caravan.
Emergency services rushed to the scene at about 7.45am when the occupants of a mobile home on the site – popular with tourists on the Wild Atlantic Way – spotted the caravan being whisked towards the sea.
Elvira Ferrari died when her caravan was blown off a cliff in Connemara, County Galway
People in a mobile home in Claddaghduff spotted the caravan being whisked towards the sea
The caravan in which Ms Ferrari was sleeping was dislodged from its moorings, although a tent nearby was undisturbed by the storm. The caravan plunged up to 30ft onto the beach and later became submerged.
Members of Clifden Fire Brigade, Gardai and the Cleggan Coast Guard were on the scene but could not save the woman. Her body was found on the beach and was taken to hospital for a post mortem examination.
Speaking from Switzerland, her friend Rolf Weber said: ‘I am deeply shocked. This is just so tragic. I saw her two days before she left for Ireland in August. She was excited about her trip. She was off to learn English.
‘She wanted to travel more. We got a message from her last Sunday, 16th September 2018, saying that she has left for a three-day trip to Clifton [sic] after finishing her English Studies.’
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