Storm Eunice Gives UK City Hot Fuzz Moment As Church Spire Crashes To The Ground

A church spire in Somerset has toppled to the ground after being battered by Storm Eunice, reminding social media users of a memorable scene in Hot Fuzz – although thankfully in this instance no one was hurt, unlike poor Tim Messenger.

Watch a video of the spire tumbling down here: 

Thomas Church in Wells became another victim of Storm Eunice after strong winds pulled the tip of its spire from the building, sending it plummeting to the ground beneath.

BBC weatherman Ian Ferguson tweeted footage shared by a local called Matthew Hodson, saying fortunately it 'didn't hit anyone'.

Twitter/Matthew Hodson

Ferguson wrote: "#STORMEUNICE It's a miracle that this sizeable & very heavy spire tip, with windvane & lightning conductor, didn't hit anyone as it came crashing-down at St Thomas Church in #Wells, #Somerset around noon.

"Video captured by Matthew Hodson."

Twitter/Matthew Hodson

The incident has since been dubbed a 'real life' Hot Fuzz moment, after people realised the unmistakable parallels between the current storm damage and a particularly grisly scene in the 2007 comedy - also filmed in Wells - in which the church's spire is pushed from the roof and falls onto Tim Messenger's head, killing him.

Universal Pictures

If you've not seen the film, or want to job your memory, you can watch the clip here - but be warned, it's pretty graphic.

Quote-tweeting the footage, one person quipped: “Real life is doing a Hot Fuzz reference.” 

Another joked: "Someone please check on Adam Buxton just to be sure."

A third wrote: "Wow. Like on Hot Fuzz." 

Universal Pictures

Storm Eunice has been wreaking havoc across the UK today, with some areas under a red weather warning. 

The fierce gales in the capital even ripped off part of the O2 Arena’s roof, leaving the sheet that covers the venue blowing in the wind. 

The famous building, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, hosts major events including concerts and features restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema. 

But today (18 February) it’s literally become a shell of its former self, with footage showing huge, gaping holes in its roof. 

Sharing a video on Twitter, user Ben Hubbard said: "Quick update, in the last 45 minutes it started off as one small panel down in the corner and went right up to the centre and now it's in the second, third and now fourth panel being completely shredded. 

"I'm not sure whether there's anything that can be done, this is just serious damage." 

Witness Mala Sharma also told the PA news agency how she had seen parts of the dome getting damaged earlier today. 

She said that 'more and more parts are getting ripped off', adding 'it’s going to be a safety issue for people around'. 

Sharma added that it happened 'right in front of my eyes' and that the damage 'started off with a patch' but then a 'chunk' of the dome roof ripped off.