A BBC news reporter was hit by a falling tree as he recorded a radio report on a hurricane in Hawaii.

James Cook was in the middle of his report when a tree suddenly cracked and fell on top of him.

He was unhurt but his laptop was destroyed.

In the recording, released by the BBC, he begins by explaining that the eye of Hurricane Lane will skirt Hawaii’s Big Island in 12 hours’ time.

But he is interrupted by the sound of a tree breaking amid fierce winds.

He shouts “argh” before about five seconds of silence. James and his co-workers can then be heard asking each other if they are OK.

“Well, that was unexpected,” the journalist adds over the sound of crunching leaves and brunches.

James asks a colleague not to try to move the tree, explaining: “It will be easier just to climb out.”

But he adds: “It’s smashed my laptop.”

The incident came as the 100mph lurched toward the US island chain, forcing over 1,000 people into emergency shelters.

In capital Honolulu, sandbags were stacked along the world-famous Waikiki Beach and tourists have been ordered to leave.