PREVIEW

A “freak” dust devil tore through an athletics track during a children’s sports competition, lifting tables, chairs - and even officials - into the air.
The small whirlwind – resembling a miniature tornado – was caught on camera striking Central Park Athletics club in Dartford shortly before 10am on Saturday (August 1).
It coincided with hundreds of young athletes from clubs across the South East attending the track to compete.
Officials said the vortex appeared without warning on an otherwise calm, sunny morning before tearing through the start and finish area, damaging electronic timing equipment worth thousands of pounds and sending debris spinning across the track.
Tony Durey, chairman of Central Park Athletics in Dartford, said he had never witnessed anything like it in more than 35 years in the sport.
"It was a day much like today. It was sunny, very warm and there was no wind, maybe just a slight breeze”, he said.
"Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this tornado came from the car park right down the middle of the track.”
Mr Durey said the dust devil looked exactly like those seen on television, with dust and debris spiralling into the air as it travelled across the athletics stadium.
"It picked up all the dirt and debris and spiralled into that typical tornado shape. You could actually see it travelling along the running track," he said.
"Thankfully there were no juniors running there at the time because the race had only just started.
“I'm pretty sure if there had been a young child on the track, it probably would have picked them up and thrown them into the air."
The whirlwind ripped through the electronic timing area, throwing tables, chairs and specialist equipment around 50ft into the air.
"It literally picked up all the tables and chairs and threw them about 50 feet into the air," Mr Durey said.
"I've never seen anything like it."
He said the damage to electronic timing equipment is expected to run into a few thousand pounds.
Several officials, many of them elderly volunteers, were caught in the whirlwind.
"There were about five officials sitting there," Mr Durey said.
"It lifted them off their chairs and literally threw them into the air. A couple of them landed on top of each other."
One official was taken to hospital after suffering a chest injury.
Mr Durey said he has since returned home and is recovering well.
The dust devil lasted around 90 seconds before disappearing as quickly as it had formed.
"It all happened before our eyes and then it was gone," he said.
"It was a complete freak. Right in the middle of summer, it was really strange."
Among those witnessing the incident was Terry Skelton, chairman and coach of HY Athletics Club in Hastings, who had travelled to Dartford with young competitors.
He also noticed the whirlwind began as a small swirl near the start and finish line before rapidly growing in size.
"It really started off really small right on the start and finish line, and then got bigger and bigger," he said.
"The tent went, then it lifted people up and threw them back down."
Mr Skelton said one woman was lifted before falling backwards into an 85-year-old timekeeper, who hit his head and later went to hospital advised by the present paramedic.
The dry conditions created a huge cloud of dust as the whirlwind crossed the track.
"All the grass was brown and the dust was just horrendous," he said. "You couldn't see a thing.
"It was scary, especially for the young kids."
The meeting was abandoned following the incident.