'We're glad that the last thing we did was give her a hug': Tributes to 'optimistic and kind' university worker, 29, killed during Storm Doris by falling debris outside Starbucks
- Tahnie Martin was killed when block of wood struck her head in Wolverhampton
- Colleague Aidan Byrne called her 'irrepressibly optimistic and kind' in tribute
- A mother has also died, hit by roadsweeper on way to pick up child in Swindon
- Lorry driver also died after crash in New Cross, south east London, yesterday
The woman who was killed when Storm Doris flung a huge piece of wood through the air that struck her in the head has today been named by police as Tahnie Martin.
She worked at the University of Wolverhampton and was struck by the huge piece of wood 'the size of a coffee table' blown off the side of a building near Starbucks while walking with colleagues.
Police say they are now trying to ascertain who is responsible for the building that the rotten piece of wood came from as they may be held criminally responsible for the death.
Colleague Dr Aidan Byrne, who she worked with, today described her as 'irrepressibly optimistic and kind' in a heartfelt tribute left on Facebook after the tragic incident.
The woman who was killed when Storm Doris flung a huge piece of wood through the air that struck her in the head has today been named by police as Tahnie Martin
She worked at the University of Wolverhampton and was struck by the huge piece of wood blown off the side of a building outside Starbucks while walking with colleagues
The 29-year-old was a marketing manager at the University of Wolverhampton's faculty of Arts
She had studied at Birmingham University and was 'highly valued' in her job, the University of Wolverhampton's vice-chancellor Professor Geoff Layer said
A tribute left on Facebook posted on behalf of Dr Aidan Byrne, who she worked with. He described her as 'irrepressibly optimistic and kind'
Talking of how she spent her final night at a dinner she had organised for the English department's anniversary, he added: 'We were so grateful to her, and we're glad that the last thing we did on Wednesday night was give her a hug and tell her how much we appreciated everything she did.'
Detective Inspector Paul Joyce said: 'We are still trying to ascertain who the building belongs to and whether there is any criminal liability. This is a deeply tragic incident and our thoughts remain with Miss Martin's family. We would ask that their privacy is respected in their time of grief.'
There was no answer at Tahnie's parents' small terraced house in Cannock, Staffordshire, and black blinds are down on the windows.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'Tahnie's mother is absolutely devastated. She was incredibly proud of her.
It was also revealed today that a lorry driver in his 50s has died after crashing into a lamppost in New Cross, south east London
'I can't believe it. I heard about what happened but never expected it to be anyone from round here.
'Rosie is absolutely crushed and extremely upset as you can only imagine.'
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: 'Rosie is shattered and absolutely heartbroken.
'Tahnie lived there with her until she moved to Stafford and I know Rosie was unbelievably proud of all her achievements.
'They were a private family and Tahnie was lovely. We are all in deep shock as a community.'
On Tahnie's Twitter profile she wrote: 'No one ever said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.'
Today it emerged that there were two more victims of yesterday's storm, who have not yet been named, including a 32-year-old mother hit by a roadsweeper after the wind caught her pram, which pulled her into its path.
The 32-year-old woman, who has not yet been named, had been on the way to pick up her child from a minder in Swindon so the youngster was not in the pushchair that pulled her into the road.
The other victim revealed today was a lorry driver in his 50s has died after crashing into a lamppost in New Cross, south east London, amid high winds during the chaos yesterday.
A nine-year-old girl was left with life-threatening injuries after a ceiling collapsed on 40 students waiting in a hall for an after-school dance club at a primary in Milton Keynes.
In Aldgate, London, dramatic footage showed another woman receiving emergency treatment after also being struck in the head.
Two pensioners aged 70 and 80 were today fighting for their lives in hospital after suffering neck injuries when a tree crashed onto their car while driving near Church Stretton in Shropshire on Thursday morning.
Another woman was hurt when a tree was brought crashing down on to a car amid strong gales in Croydon, south London, but she did not require hospital treatment.
A rotten piece of wood was blown off the side of a building by the wind and struck a 29-year-old woman on the head in Wolverhampton
There was no answer at Tahnie's parents' small terraced house (pictured) in Cannock, Staffordshire, and black blinds are down on the windows
Miss Martin's parents were not in today but a neighbour said that they were 'devastated'
He colleagues described the 'talented and creative' marketing professional as 'one of our shining stars' today
Miss Martin was working at the University of Wolverhampton in a temporary role but had recently been taken on for a permanent job in the marketing department, which she secured just last week.
Vice-chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer, said: 'We are all deeply saddened by this tragic loss. During Tahnie's short time at the University, she made a real impact both in a professional and personal capacity. She became a very popular member of the team and was highly valued.'
Katharine Clough, Director of External Relations at the University, added: 'We feel privileged and honoured to have worked alongside Tahnie in our team.
'She was one of our shining stars, a talented and creative marketing professional with an enthusiasm and smile which were infectious.
'Tahnie was extremely popular and will be hugely missed. All of our thoughts are with her family and friends at this tragic time.'
Police have still not released the identities of the other two victims of Storm Doris, who died as the 100mph gales swept across the nation.
Writing today of the mother's death in Swindon on Facebook, local resident Alun Rossiter said: 'What awful day in Stratton when a young mum goes to pick up her child, and the wind takes a young mum's life.
'Having a young family really brings it home. Apparently pushing a empty push chair to the child minder, wind took hold of her.'
Devastated locals said yesterday's gales of up to 100mph swept the empty pram into the path of the road cleaner and she became trapped under the vehicle.
The mother was pronounced dead shortly after emergency services arrived at the scene near Arkells brewery at Beechcroft Road's junction with Hyde Road.
No arrests had yet been made in what Inspector David Ibbott said was an ongoing investigation over what appeared to be a 'tragic accident'.
The accident left the community in shock, with Charlene Mills from Swindon writing on Facebook: 'Oh my gosh! Just heard a lady [...] got blown into the road and hit by a road sweeper!'
Samantha Miles wrote: 'Oh my god poor women and poor baby with his or her mother. This weather is bad. Thoughts are with her family.'
Jessica Gilder wrote: 'The child was dropped off at childminders. It was just an empty pushchair. My mum was there when the lady passed away. Just horrible news. Thoughts are with family at this very sad time.'
Jo Thelma Breslin added: 'Terrible. My dad was there and seen it happen and tried helping her. My dad very upset. Life's too short.
'She was on the way to collect child with an empty pushchair and my dad panicked and thought there was a child too but there wasn't - just her pram she took to collect her child.'
Paramedics rushed to the scene, outside Starbucks, to try and help the woman, who has not yet been named, but she later died
A 32-year-old mother has died after being hit by a roadsweeper at a crossroads on her way to pick her child up from a minder
A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said officers were appealing for further witnesses to the collision.
The spokesman said the collision happened just before 4.30pm yesterday.
He added: 'A white road maintenance vehicle was in collision with a pedestrian.
'A 32-year-old lady from Swindon sadly died at the scene.
'Next of kin have been informed and formal identification will take place in due course.'
A post mortem examination was due to take place within the next few days.
The woman will be formally identified when a coroner for Wiltshire opens an inquest into her death.
The hearing will then be adjourned for a full inquest over the circumstances of her death to be determined by the coroner.
Meanwhile, in Wolverhampton, hundreds of tributes have been posted for the woman who was killed by falling timber outside a Starbucks.
Eye-witnesses reported the woman was struck on the head by a wooden board that was ripped from a nearby roof and thrown 60ft through the air like 'a piece of paper'.
Despite efforts by onlookers to revive the woman with CPR, she was bleeding heavily and passed away outside the coffee shop in Wolverhampton city centre.
The store, which was closed yesterday, was reopened this morning as police continue their investigation into the incident.
The woman's family have been informed of her death.
Police, pictured at the scene in Swindon today, are appealing for witnesses to come forward after the woman was killed
A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said officers were appealing for further witnesses to the collision at a cross roads near where the woman lived in north Swindon
Police have put up signs at the scene in Swindon as they investigate the death of the mother
Becky Cresswell, 37, said: 'I'm still shaken by all of it. I was having a cup of coffee on the first floor of Marks and Spencers, quite near the window opposite Starbucks.
'I was looking out and I was right in position to see the building and suddenly this huge wooden boarding with metal on the back caught my eye. It had been picked up by a huge gust of wind and obviously blown it up off the roof.
'It was flying like a piece of paper, I thought it was going to come through the window so I immediately got up from my seat because my reaction was that it would kill someone.
'It was like it was all happening in slow motion, the board then just fell down and bounced off her. It was all very brutal.
'There was a lot of blood pouring from her head. She was being given CPR for about 15 to 20 minutes, but I could see by the amount of blood that it was going to be fruitless.
'It came from the top of the roof from the row of shops quite high up. The roof is above Starbucks, Clinton's and Boots and is three storeys high. It came off a square tower attached to the building.
'She was white, had dark hair and was wearing a dark grey, thin woollen dress.'
According to one witness, there was confusion among first aiders about where to find a defibrillator.
Ed Blackwell, a store manager at the Mander Centre where the Starbucks is also located, said: 'Working in the city I have access to the link radio.
'It was awful hearing the panic on the radio. One of the city's leading retailers were clearly distressed and asked twice for assistance regarding where they could get defibrillators from.
In Wolverhampton, hundreds of tributes have been posted for the woman who was killed by falling timber outside a Starbucks
'No response was given until later when she was told the ambulance was on their way
'It's really concerning that there wasn't any health and safety awareness yesterday.
'Whether defibrillators would of been useful isn't the point. We should all know where these things are located. Maybe lives could then be saved not lost.'
Many went to the scene to lay tributes after the news broke.
Chris Brooke, 60, said: 'I'm just so sorry for her family, so so sorry. I can't connect what has happened in my mind, I've been trying to figure it out in my mind ever since I heard about it.
'It's a freak accident. She was clearly just at the wrong place at the wrong time. It's a tragedy, that's all you can say.
'Her family must be absolutely devastated. She will have waved or kissed them goodbye yesterday morning, not knowing that it will have been for the last time.
'I'm very surprised to see Starbucks open today. It's disrespectful, I think. I know that they closed yesterday, but they should have waited at least a couple of days before re-opening, just as a mark of respect to her family'.
Margaret Pert, 27, said: 'This has just happened so close to home that it's been hard to take in. She was so young as well
Flowers were laid outside the store, which despite the death just yesterday, was open for business as usual this morning
'I don't live locally, but I had to come down to look at the tributes and pay my respects. I've got three children myself, so the reality of it really hits home. It was a one in a million accident, it really was.
'I've heard lots of different stories about what happened. Someone said that her head came off, but I don't think that's true.
'It was awful yesterday hearing complaining about the disturbances and the shops being shut. Somebody lost their life, and people should be respectful.
'It's really really bad that Starbucks is open today. It's disrespectful, even if people are coming to put flowers down outside here.'
A witness said that they saw saw the piece of debris that hit the woman 'fly through the air like a piece of paper'
Annette Bryan, 56, owner of the flower stall in Mander Shopping Centre, where many are buying flowers, said: 'I got in here at about 8 this morning, and it was unbelievable eerie. Everybody has been stunned by what's happened.
'People have been here all day buying flowers, there's been so many coming to pay their respects.
'Everybody that's walked past has had a look at the flowers, and has obviously been thinking about the girl that's died and thought about buying flowers.
'A young boy came up to buy some flowers earlier. It was very powerful.
'The community has come together in a very strong way, and everybody clearly has this poor girl in their thoughts.'
Judy Meredith, 68, said: 'It's tragic, what else can you say? It's just a case of wrong place, wrong time. Wrong age, too. To be taken that young is so so awful. I can't imagine what her family are feeling at the moment.
Linda Ellis, 68, said: 'I was so shocked when I heard about it. Everybody has been talking about it, it's clearly affected a lot of people.
'It's tragic that she's died so young. She's at the age where she could very possibly be somebody's mother.
'She's someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's best friend. I just feel so much for those people that were close to her and am so sorry for what has happened.'
The Next store's tribute read: 'Rest in peace. All staff at Next Dudley Street.
A local hotdog vendor wrote: 'Such a tragedy. So sorry couldn't do anything to help. God bless you and your family (Hot dog man & family).'
Another anonymous bunch of flower had the note: 'RIP beautiful angel. God bless + sleep tight.'
Taking to Facebook, many people have grief at the accident and expressed their sympathy for the woman's family.
Norma Dewolfe said: 'So sad and sympathy goes out to her family and friends.. Always cherish your loved ones because you never know if or when you're going to see them again. So sad.'
Linda Cartwright said: 'Me, mom and Fred had not long passed here. I'm so sorry RIP. My thoughts are with the family.'
Simon Perry said: 'We had to quickly leave Clintons when the police tape was going up. Condolences to her friends and family.'
Penny Massey said: 'What a very sad day for this young lady's family and friends and thank you to all who tried to help.'
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