French tourist in surgery after palm tree falls on her

A 68-year-old French tourist is in need on surgery for injuries she sustained after a palm tree fell on her, police said on Wednesday.

According to Famagusta police spokesman Steve Theodoulou, the woman was walking with her 77-year-old husband on Vrysoudion street in Paralimni when they reportedly entered the yard of a restaurant around 3pm.

“Under circumstances still under review, a palm tree that was in the area of the restaurant broke off and fell on the woman”.

Theodoulou said that members of the Famagusta fire service and Paralimni police officers rushed to the scene to free the woman, who was then taken to Famagusta general hospital.

“There, it was determined she suffered a broken hip and some cracked ribs, also fracturing her fifth vertebrae”.

The woman has been scheduled for surgery and her life does not look to be in danger, the spokesman said.

“From the investigation so far, it appears that the owner of the restaurant, in his attempt to cut down the palm tree, caused it to fall in such a way that injured the woman”.

According to Theodoulou, Paralimni police are investigating the incident as a reckless and negligent act.