Powerful storm across Germany kills six

A powerful storm with winds that gusted up to 133 km/hour has swept across Germany and killed six people in weather-related accidents…

A powerful storm with winds that gusted up to 133 km/hour has swept across Germany and killed six people in weather-related accidents.

A five-year-old British girl was swept away and killed in a freak helium balloon accident at a military show in the western town of Rheindahlen when she became entangled in the balloon's mooring ropes as it was swept away by high winds.

The balloon was found about 40 miles away and the girl's body discovered nearby.

A paraglider (33) was killed when powerful gusts sent him crashing to the ground.

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A musician (52) was killed by a falling tree branch at the end of an open air concert near Bernkastel and a security guard (42) was killed by a falling tree in Apen.

Elsewhere, a man (65) was also killed on the North Sea island of Sylt when the powerful winds tipped his parked caravan on top of him, and a man in Muehlhausen died when a tree hit his car.

German police said another six people were killed in separate car crashes on water-soaked roads around the country.

Lightning strikes also caused numerous fires and millions of euros in damage.