Tree falls on Monty Python star’s house (but there's no lumberjack and Terry Jones is OK)

 
p3 Terry Jones with fallen tree near his house in Fittzroy Park Highgate pic: Nigel Sutton
Nigel Sutton

Monty Python star Terry Jones today told of his lucky escape when a 60ft tree smashed into his north London home.

The tree came down as he sat down to dinner with his family. It crashed into his garage and landed just inches from the front door.

The comedian, 70, and his family were blocked in the house and had to climb out of the front window.

Jones told of his escape as the Met Office revealed that 2012 was England’s wettest year on record, with a series of floods across the country overwhelming more than 10,000 homes and businesses, bringing down trees and closing rail and road links.

Jones — who co-wrote the Python’s Lumberjack Song — had arrived back in London from Sweden on Saturday with his partner, Anna Söderström, 29, and their daughter, Siri, three.

Jones said: “We heard a crashing noise. I had always been worried about that particular tree. It was a huge tree and we were so lucky to escape.

“It hit the garage wall and the ends of the branches were just touching the house front after hitting other trees on the way down. When we opened the front door all we could see was the tree.”

He added: “If it had been six foot taller it would have hit the roof and Siri sleeps in that room. We were so lucky because she could have been killed.” The tree blocked the exit to the Highgate cul-de-sac where Jones has his home. All of the six families who live there were trapped inside for four hours. Jones invited his neighbours over for brunch as they waited for workmen to clear the road.

“The only way you could get out of the road was by climbing through my front window.”

The tree was later cleared by the managers of the neighbouring estate where it had stood.

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