KEY POINTS:
Cambridge rest-home worker Tracey Espin saw a tornado roaring across a park towards her early yesterday and thought she was about to die.
Mrs Espin was at the Oakdale Rest Home in Cambridge when she heard a rumble like a train, just after 3am.
She and co-worker Charlene Colvin were in the lounge when the tornado arrived, tearing down trees and power lines, lifting off part of the roof and rattling windows for five minutes.
"I thought I heard like a train coming or a bit of rumbling getting louder and louder. I opened our ranchslider and had a look.
"Just across from us there is a big park and lots of trees and leaves. There was a wind and all these things coming straight towards us.
"I quickly shut the doors and, in the carpark, our cars started shaking and, all of a sudden, there was a bang and it felt like the roof was lifting off."
Mrs Espin, 45, said they found a big hole in the roof and water pouring in where a water main had burst.
The tornado, which swept through Cambridge cutting a swathe of destruction, disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived.
After ringing for help from the Fire Service, Mrs Espin and Ms Colvin helped the 12 elderly residents from the damaged wing to struggle through ankle-deep water to the lounge, where they were wrapped in blankets and given a cup of tea.
Mrs Espin said she and Ms Colvin thought they would die.
"We were really scared. I thought all the windows were going to blow in."
She said none of the residents panicked and "just took it all in their stride" as they were looked after and kept warm.
- NZPA
