A couple had a lucky escape after part of their home in Co Kerry collapsed as they slept during Storm Éowyn.
The entire upper side of the house belonging to Jaro and Ingrid Fagan was left exposed as high winds struck near Ceann Trá overnight on Friday.
A gable above their bedroom was blown outwards during the storm, leaving the entire roof structure exposed.
Storm Éowyn live: Updates on road closures, flights and emergency information as red weather warning brings ‘threat to life’
“We are very lucky that we are alive. If it had fallen inside we would have been buried underneath it,” Mr Fagan told RTÉ.
“It was just the worst nightmare you can have really.
“It happened about 3am. Just a huge bang.
“We thought first it was the shed that had hit the house, but the shed is still sitting here.
“It was just a huge noise - loud.”
He added the roof of the house had lost a significant number of slates and he believes a build-up of pressure in the attic caused the gable to blow outwards.
“It was a huge gust,” he said.
“I think maybe some slates were blown off first and then just sucked in the attic and pushed out. I don’t know.”
The couple, who are originally from Slovakia, said they left their home immediately.
“I called a friend and told him what had happened,” he said.
“They called the gardaí for us and they told us to leave the house as soon as possible and stay safe. So, we packed our dogs and off we went.”
