EXCLUSIVE 'I will never forget the screams': Brits in Essex park 'heaving with families' reveal moment seven-year-old girl was killed and four other children were injured as tree branch came crashing down on top of them

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Brits in an Essex park 'heaving with families' have spoken out about the terrifying moment a falling tree killed a seven-year-old girl and injured four other children.
A six-year-old girl, who was also caught underneath the tree when it collapsed, is in a critical condition in hospital.
Three other children were taken to hospital with minor injuries in the horror incident in Chalkwell Park in Southend, Essex, at 3pm today.
One witness said he would 'never forget the screams' of the children involved, as he described seeing a tree 'split and fall to the ground'.
And speaking exclusively to MailOnline, another witness, long-time Southend resident Adam Ramet, 54, described the incident as 'absolutely dreadful'.
The piano showroom owner, whose business is just by the park in the resort town's Westcliff-on-Sea area, said: 'It's a tragedy.
'The park was absolutely heaving with families and kids this afternoon.
'People are taking gazebos and they're having picnics, there's two playgrounds there and it was just full of people.
'It's not like this was a quiet bit in the back of the local woods or anything.
'It's literally right next to the basketball courts and the tennis and everything so all sorts of people would have literally been yards away from it when it happened.
'They're all young kids who are just playing around, running over the grass underneath the tree like everybody has done when they were a kid in that park.
'It's a park that if you're local, you grew up there, it's part of your life.
'There would have been lots of people and families there, there would have been lots of people who've been very seriously traumatised.'
Mr Ramet told MailOnline he spoke to a neighbour who was there when the awful incident occurred.
'He'd just walked under the tree one minute before', he explained.
'It came crashing down and he, with three other guys, immediately ran and tried to move all the fallen branches.
'He said one girl was killed [instantly] outright and at least four others were badly injured.
'Everybody else just stood around and nobody did anything.
'He helped roll this giant [branch] off a girl who's just literally crushed by it.'
Mr Ramet continued: 'Quite a bit of [the tree] came down, it seems like one of the boughs came down and maybe smashed another two or three on the way down.
'You can see a lot of trunks and things on the floor in the distance.
'It looks to me like the whole top of the tree has come down from what I can see.'
He said he did not realise what had happened until about an hour later, when he headed out on a walk and saw an 'awful lot of police cars and ambulances' and police tape.
The long-time Southend resident said: 'I know that tree - it's a huge cedar tree. The branches are thicker than a human being.
'It's not little branches [that have] come down. Each branch is the size of a proper thick tree trunk, it's huge.
'The tree is very, very iconic and it's right next to the old manor house in the middle of the park.
'It must be at least 200 years old by the look of it, at least, certainly as old as the house in the park [Chalkwell Hall].
'I'm 54, I've known it since I was a toddler, you can see it in old Edwardian postcards, it's been there that long.'
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: 'A child has sadly died and another is in a critical condition in hospital following an incident at a park in Southend.
'Shortly before 3pm on Saturday, June 28, it was reported a tree had partially collapsed in Chalkwell Park.
'A number of children were caught beneath the tree and suffered injuries. The park was busy with members of the public and many immediately went to their aid.'
Six ambulances, two air ambulances, firefighters and police officers rushed to the scene in the Essex park just before 3pm today.
It is understood the incident happened near the park's rose garden as well as the manor house Chalkwell Hall, which sits within its grounds.
David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: 'The news of the sad death of one of the children involved in the incident at Chalkwell Park today is truly devastating.
'I am sure I reflect the thoughts of all our residents here in Southend in sending my deepest condolences to the child's family and friends.
'My thoughts are also with the other children injured and I wish them a full and speedy recovery.
'At the time of the incident the park was very busy and a number of people witnessed what happened.
'I understand that this must have been deeply traumatising and I encourage residents to use the support available to help them.'
The spokesperson for Essex Police continued: 'Enquiries are continuing at the park and an investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances around this incident.
'The majority of the park remains open, but we would continue to ask the public to avoid the clearly cordoned off areas.
'We are in the process of setting up a public portal for people with concerns or information around this incident to reach out to us.
'An update around this will be issued in the coming days.'
Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett said: 'Families are facing unimaginable hardship this evening and all of our thoughts are with them at this time.
'I cannot begin to put into words how difficult today's events have been, and continue to be, for them.
'It's also not lost on me how traumatic it must have been for the members of the public who witnessed this awful incident.
'Across a matter of moments, many of them went from enjoying the warm summer weather to rushing to the aid of strangers without a second thought.
'They showed the best of Southend today and I'm sorry this update does not bring them more positive news.
'My officers, and our partners with the ambulance and fire service, did all they could to help the two injured children.
'Today's loss is one they will all take personally.
'We will ensure support is in place for all of our emergency service responders who provided aid at the scene.'
A spokesperson for Southend-on-Sea City Council has said it is 'deeply saddened' after the 'tragic incident' which saw a tree 'partially collapsed in a busy part of the park'.
Councillor Daniel Cowan, leader of the council, said: 'The death of a child is devastating and my deepest, most heartfelt condolences are with the child's family and friends.
'My thoughts are also with the injured children and those on the scene. I hope the other children make a full and speedy recovery.
'This was a traumatic event for those involved, those who witnessed the incident, and the emergency services. I encourage those affected to seek support.'
Southend's mayor, Councillor Nigel Folkard, said: 'I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young life following the incident in Chalkwell Park today.
'As both Mayor and a Chalkwell councillor, my thoughts are with the child's family, friends, and all those affected.
'I ask our community to come together in support and compassion during this incredibly difficult time.'
An East of England Ambulance spokesperson previously told MailOnline: 'We were called at 2.55pm to reports that a tree had fallen in Chalkwell Park in Westcliff-on-Sea.
'Six ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, the London Air Ambulance and Kent Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.
'Two children were transported by road to Southend University Hospital.
'A further three children were later transported to the same hospital with minor injuries.'
An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We are at the scene of a serious incident in Chalkwell Park working with ambulance and police colleagues.
'We were called just before 3pm today to reports of a large fallen tree. There have been a number of casualties and our work is ongoing.
'Our Urban Search and Rescue Team is in attendance alongside firefighters and officers.
'We would ask the public to avoid the area while our work continues.'
A spokesperson for Southend County Council has said: 'We are aware of a serious incident at Chalkwell Park and are working closely with Essex Police, the ambulance service and fire service, who remain at the scene.
'We understand that a tree has fallen and that there are a number of casualties.
'We ask the public to avoid the area while emergency services carry out their work.
'Our thoughts are with all those affected and we will provide further updates as soon as possible.'