A BBC correspondent covering the impact of Hurricane Lane in Hawaii had a lucky escape after a tree hit him as he delivered a live radio report.

James Cook, the corporation’s North American correspondent, was telling listeners about the path of destruction being caused by the storm, which has since been downgraded to a category two.

In the audio recording, released by the BBC, he begins by explaining that the eye of the category three storm will skirt round Hawaii’s Big Island in 12 hours’ time.

But midway through the broadcast a crack can be heard, swiftly following by the sounds of rustling as a large tree collapsed on the journalist, smashing his laptop.

Cook was not injured but is then heard groaning before telling his crew: “I’m fine. Well, that was unexpected. I’m fine. I’m good.”