Mangawhai tornado: Family say it was a ‘miracle’ injured woman survived

The family of Tina Johnson say it is a miracle she survived the tornado, which completely destroyed the second storey where she was sleeping. Photo / Hayden Woodward

The family of a woman badly injured in the Mangawhai tornado say it is a miracle she survived when the second storey of her house was blown apart.

Two people were badly injured in the tornado, which struck Mangawhai village at about 3am on Sunday.

One of the injured was Tina Johnson, who was thrown from her bedroom as the tornado destroyed the second storey of her Old Waipu Road house.

By “some miracle” she managed to land on the only thing that had a stable roof - a small shed at the back of the carport, said her daughter Jade Johnson-Price.

Johnson suffered a broken arm, cuts, and bumps and bruises all over. She was helicoptered to hospital, but it took emergency services some time to get there, due to downed power poles and trees.

She had surgery on Sunday night to help her broken arm and clean-up the lacerations, and medics were happy with how well it went, Johnson-Price said.

“They were really happy with how well her body responded to the trauma ... She was awake and talking most of the day [on Sunday].”

More surgeries will still be needed, and she is expected to be in hospital for some time, said Johnson-Price.

But the family members are counting their blessings that Johnson survived.

“We’re incredibly grateful that she made it out of there alive; the second storey is no longer there.

“We don’t know how it worked but we believe someone was there looking out for her.”

Northpower crews work on Monday to restore the power to Old Waipu Road, which was badly damaged by the Mangawhai tornado. Photo / Michael Craig

Johnson-Price said the family is also grateful for members of the Mangawhai community who helped her mother as she lay injured.

With emergency services being hampered, more than a dozen neighbours supported Johnson as she lay injured on the carport.

“We’re really grateful for all those who came out and helped her, when they heard her crying out for help.”

Johnson-Price said people from the community have also been offering messages of help and support.

She encouraged people to keep themselves safe first and foremost, with power still out in parts of Old Waipu Rd.

Johnson’s family and close friends are helping taking care of things like insurance, but Johnson-Price said Mangawhai residents have also been picking up mementos from the house.

“I got a message this morning that people have been finding photographs of my mother and grandmother as babies.

“It’s nice that they’re keeping all the stuff safe, and when we can come and collect them, we will.”

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.