Gaston girl pinned to couch when storm sends tree into home

A North Carolina college student is lucky to be alive after a massive tree came crashing through her grandmother's home.

The girl was pinned underneath the tree for almost an hour, while emergency crews in Gaston County tried to free her.

Sydney Cox is grateful to be alive but says her life will never be the same.

"On the inside, I was freaking out, but on the outside I was trying to stay calm," Cox said.

She had just gotten seated on the couch, Fred the dog at her feet and her friend Nataki in the kitchen when, seconds later, a tree crashed through the ceiling, and Cox was stuck.

"(I was) pinned to the couch," she said.

Through it all, the soon-to-be freshman at East Carolina University kept her composure.

"I managed to make a hole so I could get my face and my arm out," she said.

After her rescue, Cox still can't believe she's alive to tell her story.

"I'm super-grateful," she said. "It's a miracle."

Even more amazing is the fact that she only has a few scratches.

"I'm a little sore, my back and my arms are bothering me, but other than that I'm fine," she said.

In a matter of seconds, the Cox family home, full of memories, was destroyed, but wisdom was gained.

"Your life can definitely change in the blink of an eye," she said.