Man crushed to death by falling gum tree

A 30m gum tree killed Mr Jewell whilst sleeping.

MELBOURNE - A 60-year-old man was crushed to death by a massive gum tree that fell on his home north-west of Melbourne as high winds and rain lashed the region.

Jimmy Jewell was in bed when the 30m tree crashed on to the house in Mount Macedon.

The tree narrowly missed Jewell's housemate and cut the weatherboard home in two. The housemate raised the alarm but emergency workers deemed the area too unsafe to attempt a rescue overnight. Two other trees had fallen close to the house, and almost a dozen others on the property had tumbled to the ground.

Macedon Ranges police Inspector Mario Fiorentino said the tree had "pretty much dissected the rear of the premises", and fell right across Jewell's bed.

- AAP