Game of Thrones set ripped apart

Filming for the hit TV series Game of Thrones had been taking place at Carrick-a-rede near Ballintoy when a large marquee being used as a catering tent was ripped apart by the severe gusts.

It is not yet known what impact the incident will have on the filming, which is scheduled to last for another five weeks.

Winds exceeding 70mph, caused by the tail end of Hurricane Katia, had been causing disruption all along the north coast before the incident with the marquee.

The current filming is for the second series of the American medieval fantasy drama based on George RR Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire novels.

Northern Ireland was chosen as the location for the dark north side of the world featured in the series with the sunny south filmed in Malta.

The first series was very well received and the second series was commissioned almost immediately after the first aired.

It is understood the marquee had several people inside when it was blown apart by the gales and one person has been treated for a back injury.

“It was very sudden and there was mass panic,” one of those working on the production told the BBC.

“People had to crouch under tables to protect themselves. They thought they were going to die. The structure just wasn’t able to withstand the strong winds.”

The worker said that filming had been called off for the day and that the incident happened after everyone had moved into the tent to eat.