The hole left in the ceiling, and the space rock that created it. (Ruth Hamilton photo)
B.C. woman awakes to a hole in her roof and a space rock on her pillow
CLAIRE PALMER
Oct. 8, 2021 2:50 p.m.
On Oct. 4, many were treated to the sight of a fireball lighting up the night sky, with images of a meteor sailing above Lake Louise striking awe.
Longtime Golden resident Ruth Hamilton, however, was fast asleep.
Or at least she was until she was roughly awoken by the sound of a crash through her ceiling and the sensation of debris on her face.
“I just jumped up and turned on the light, I couldn’t figure out what the heck had happened,” said Hamilton.
She said she took a look around to get her bearings, and spotting a rock sitting neatly on her pillow next to where her head usually lays.
Hamilton called 911, unsure of what to make of the projectile. An police officer arrived on the scene, and after establishing that the rock was not there as a result of the ongoing construction in the Kicking Horse Canyon, they settled on the only other explanation – that a meteorite had come through her roof.
“We called the Canyon project to see if they were doing any blasting and they weren’t, but they did say they had seen a bright light in the sky that had exploded and caused some booms,” said Hamilton.
“I was shaking and scared when it happened, I thought someone had jumped in or it was a gun or something. It’s almost a relief when we realized it could only have fallen out of the sky.”
Hamilton says that she’s totally fine and avoided any injuries, and that she plans to keep the rock for the foreseeable future, stating that her grandchildren think it’s pretty cool.
“I’m just totally amazed over the fact that it is a star that came out of the sky, It’s maybe billions of years old,” said Hamilton.
She also says that the experience has given her a new perspective on life.
”The only other thing I can think of saying is life is precious and it could be gone at any moment even when you think you are safe and secure in your bed,” said Hamilton.
“I hope I never ever take it for granted again.”
As for the damage to her home, Hamilton says that her insurance company will be doing a walk-through to see if roof holes cause by space debris are covered. Evidently, the company has never had a claim filed quite like this before.
As for Hamilton, she has no plans to take up astrology or stargazing after her encounter.
“That’s enough for a lifetime, I think,” she said.
Oct. 12 (UPI) -- A British Columbia woman received an unusual rude awakening when a meteorite crashed through her roof and landed on her pillow.
Ruth Hamilton said she was asleep at her Golden home when she became vaguely aware of her dog barking in the house.
"The next thing was just a huge explosion and debris all over my face," Hamilton told CBC News.
Hamilton said she got out of bed and turned on the lights, revealing something had punched a hole in her ceiling.
"I didn't know what else to do, so I called 911," she said. "Talking to the operator, she was asking me all kinds of questions, and at that point, I rolled back one of the two pillows I'd been sleeping on and in between them was the meteorite."
Hamilton said the melon-sized space rock had landed just inches away from her head.
A police officer came to Hamilton's home and they initially suspected the rock may have been the result of construction at the nearby Kicking Horse Canyon.
"We called the Canyon project to see if they were doing any blasting and they weren't, but they did say they had seen a bright light in the sky that had exploded and caused some booms," Hamilton told the Victoria News.
Experts at Western University in London, Ontario, confirmed the rock that landed in Hamilton's bed was a meteorite.
"It's certainly a meteorite," said Peter Brown, a professor with the university's physics and astronomy department. "Everything about the story was consistent with a meteorite fall, and the fact that this bright fireball had occurred basically right at the same time made it a pretty overwhelming case."
Brown said his team is planning to examine the rock and determine the type of meteorite. He said it may have fallen from the solar system's main asteroid belt.
Hamilton said the experience has given her a new perspective on life.
"The only other thing I can think of saying is life is precious and it could be gone at any moment even when you think you are safe and secure in your bed," she said. "I hope I never ever take it for granted again."
Ruth Hamilton said she was asleep at her Golden home when she became vaguely aware of her dog barking in the house.
"The next thing was just a huge explosion and debris all over my face," Hamilton told CBC News.
Hamilton said she got out of bed and turned on the lights, revealing something had punched a hole in her ceiling.
"I didn't know what else to do, so I called 911," she said. "Talking to the operator, she was asking me all kinds of questions, and at that point, I rolled back one of the two pillows I'd been sleeping on and in between them was the meteorite."
Hamilton said the melon-sized space rock had landed just inches away from her head.
A police officer came to Hamilton's home and they initially suspected the rock may have been the result of construction at the nearby Kicking Horse Canyon.
"We called the Canyon project to see if they were doing any blasting and they weren't, but they did say they had seen a bright light in the sky that had exploded and caused some booms," Hamilton told the Victoria News.
Experts at Western University in London, Ontario, confirmed the rock that landed in Hamilton's bed was a meteorite.
"It's certainly a meteorite," said Peter Brown, a professor with the university's physics and astronomy department. "Everything about the story was consistent with a meteorite fall, and the fact that this bright fireball had occurred basically right at the same time made it a pretty overwhelming case."
Brown said his team is planning to examine the rock and determine the type of meteorite. He said it may have fallen from the solar system's main asteroid belt.
Hamilton said the experience has given her a new perspective on life.
"The only other thing I can think of saying is life is precious and it could be gone at any moment even when you think you are safe and secure in your bed," she said. "I hope I never ever take it for granted again."
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