A 29-year-old Nigerian man, James Abiwon, has died after a tree brought down by powerful winds crushed his moving car in North London.

The tragic incident occurred on Dollis Road in Mill Hill during Storm Boelo, as Abiwon was reportedly driving along the road at about 12:30 p.m. when the tree collapsed onto his vehicle, trapping him inside.

Emergency services, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics and an air ambulance, were deployed to the scene.

However, Abiwon was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to Dollis Road at about 12:40 p.m. following reports that a tree had fallen onto a moving vehicle.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing in collaboration with the local authority and the coroner.

Abiwon’s death has thrown his family and friends into mourning, with tributes pouring in for the young professional, sportsman and musician who was just weeks away from his 30th birthday.

His cousin, Tyrrell Okolo, described him as “a master of everything,” while friends remembered him as a talented and energetic young man who made an impact on those around him.

Abiwon worked as a technology sales executive and was a graduate of the University of Essex. He was also a semi-professional footballer with Aldershot Town and a musician whose work had attracted thousands of views on YouTube.

A close friend, Kwame Affum, said he was still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, recalling that they had played padel together only two days before Abiwon’s death.

Affum said Abiwon had recently received recognition at work, excelled academically and remained passionate about sports and his support for Arsenal Football Club.

The late Nigerian had reportedly been planning to mark his 30th birthday with a padel tournament.

Following his death, friends have decided that the event will now be held in his memory, with proceeds expected to go towards supporting his family.

A witness who visited the scene said she heard a helicopter before stepping outside to discover that a large tree had fallen across the road, crushing a vehicle beneath it.

According to the witness, Abiwon’s girlfriend and best friend arrived while emergency responders were still working at the scene and waited anxiously, hoping he would be rescued alive.

Other family members later arrived and were left devastated by the news of his death.

Reports said traffic was particularly heavy on Dollis Road at the time because roadworks on a nearby street had diverted vehicles onto the route.

Abiwon’s death came as Storm Boelo swept across parts of the United Kingdom, bringing severe winds, with gusts of up to 84 miles per hour recorded in some areas.

A 60-year-old man was also reported to have died after being struck by a falling tree in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, while several others sustained injuries during the severe weather.

The Metropolitan Police said investigations into Abiwon’s death were continuing.