Latest news with #treecollapse
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Girl, six, in ‘very serious' condition after tree collapse
A six-year-old girl is in a 'very serious' condition after being caught beneath a tree which collapsed in an Essex park. A seven-year-old girl was killed and three more children sustained minor injuries and received hospital treatment after the tree fell in Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, shortly before 3pm on Saturday. Advertisement Police are investigating what happened and an area has been set up for the laying of flowers and tributes. Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris of Essex Police said: 'Updates will be provided on the condition of the little girl who remains in hospital. 'I know many will be thinking of her today and she is in the right place, receiving urgent and around-the-clock care surrounded by her family. 'Sadly, her condition is still very serious at this time.' Advertisement Dozens saw the incident and rushed to try and lift the tree, a witness said. Accountant Ishan Madan, 39, from Westcliff-on-Sea, was playing in a cricket match nearby when he heard a 'horrendous, screeching scream'. He said: 'Everyone ran towards the clubhouse, where the tree is. 'The tree had snapped and I think there were four children, the fifth one was slightly further away, I think she'd been hit by a branch. Advertisement 'Two of them were under a smaller branch, they were rescued easily, and unfortunately, the other two girls, they were stuck under this massive tree. 'So we got bystanders to help, it must have been 40 to 50 people who then tried to lift the fallen tree up and to our horror, these two little girls, poor girls, were stuck underneath it. 'Their mother was on the corner. 'It was horrendous.' Advertisement Police praised the reaction of bystanders (Joe Giddens/PA) Mr Madan said that he had heard the children were walking on a path when the tree fell. He continued: 'You'd never think something like this could happen and there were a lot of people at our club that were shocked, including myself. 'It was horrendous. 'It was like a nightmare that you'd sort of wake up from and then someone would tell you it wasn't true. Advertisement 'You couldn't imagine kids walking in the park and something like this happening.' Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett said that those who rushed to help 'showed the best of Southend'.
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Tree that killed girl, 7, was ‘propped up by metal poles'
A tree that collapsed and killed a seven-year-old girl in Southend-on-Sea on Saturday had been 'propped up by metal supports for years'. She and four other children were taken to hospital after a branch fell in Chalkwell Park while they were playing underneath it. One six-year-old girl remains in critical condition. Dozens of members of the public rushed to help those trapped underneath the fallen tree before police officers, paramedics and firefighters attended. Cllr James Courtenay, who leads the council's Conservative group and represents the ward in which the tragedy took place, called for an investigation into what happened. He said: 'We shouldn't rush to judgment, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't conduct a full and thorough investigation.' He added: 'I believe the council should review internally what knowledge it has and what actions should be taken in the park and other parks. We need one investigation that gets to the bottom of it and understands what happened.' Mr Courtenay, 42, said he believed the tree had been supported by poles for years, if not decades. 'I went down this morning and laid flowers on behalf of the Chalkwell councillors and the Conservative group on the council. You could see a steady flow of people coming to visit,' he added. 'I think my reaction was one of disbelief. That tree had been there for so long, it was an old tree when I was a lad. 'In this day and age, parents are always worried about their children in parks, but the one thing you wouldn't worry about is a tree collapsing. I can barely begin to imagine what the family must feel. Their world has been turned upside down in seconds.' Writing on Facebook, Jack Whitaker, a resident, said: 'I live five minutes down the road. [The] tree had been braced for years. A very light reduction had been carried out a few years ago. '[The] limb that had been braced was substantial and held a huge amount of lateral weight. Said limb was in a high-risk area with lots of foot traffic directly under its path.' Nicholas Salman wrote on social media: 'Can't just stick a few metal poles under a 20-tonne tree and leave it and expect it to be ok. Then build a bench under to help kids climb up. 'My kids tried to do the same, but obviously I stopped them as one is six years old! Absolutely heartbreaking, my thoughts are with the family.' 'A danger for years' Victoria Muscat also commented on the tragedy online, saying it was 'totally avoidable'. She said: 'They've known it's a danger for years. Thoughts are with the family.' Chris Roftis agreed: 'The council should have a tree person who checks every day if trees are rotting, unsafe etc. So council has got a lot of answering to do as well.' Southend-on-Sea city council has been contacted for comment. A spokesman for Essex Police said: '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.' Ch Supt Leighton Hammett of Essex Police added: '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.'
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Girl, six, in ‘very serious' condition after tree collapse
A six-year-old girl is in a 'very serious' condition after being caught beneath a tree which collapsed in an Essex park. A seven-year-old girl was killed and three more children sustained minor injuries and received hospital treatment after the tree fell in Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, shortly before 3pm on Saturday. Police are investigating what happened and an area has been set up for the laying of flowers and tributes. Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris of Essex Police said: 'Updates will be provided on the condition of the little girl who remains in hospital. 'I know many will be thinking of her today and she is in the right place, receiving urgent and around-the-clock care surrounded by her family. 'Sadly, her condition is still very serious at this time.' Dozens saw the incident and rushed to try and lift the tree, a witness said. Accountant Ishan Madan, 39, from Westcliff-on-Sea, was playing in a cricket match nearby when he heard a 'horrendous, screeching scream'. He said: 'Everyone ran towards the clubhouse, where the tree is. 'The tree had snapped and I think there were four children, the fifth one was slightly further away, I think she'd been hit by a branch. ' Two of them were under a smaller branch, they were rescued easily, and unfortunately, the other two girls, they were stuck under this massive tree. 'So we got bystanders to help, it must have been 40 to 50 people who then tried to lift the fallen tree up and to our horror, these two little girls, poor girls, were stuck underneath it. 'Their mother was on the corner. 'It was horrendous.' Mr Madan said that he had heard the children were walking on a path when the tree fell. He continued: 'You'd never think something like this could happen and there were a lot of people at our club that were shocked, including myself. 'It was horrendous. 'It was like a nightmare that you'd sort of wake up from and then someone would tell you it wasn't true. 'You couldn't imagine kids walking in the park and something like this happening.' Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett said that those who rushed to help 'showed the best of Southend'.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Girl, six, in ‘very serious' condition after tree collapse
A six-year-old girl is in a 'very serious' condition after being caught beneath a tree which collapsed in an Essex park. A seven-year-old girl was killed and three more children sustained minor injuries and received hospital treatment after the tree fell in Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, shortly before 3pm on Saturday. Police are investigating what happened and an area has been set up for the laying of flowers and tributes. Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris of Essex Police said: 'Updates will be provided on the condition of the little girl who remains in hospital. 'I know many will be thinking of her today and she is in the right place, receiving urgent and around-the-clock care surrounded by her family. 'Sadly, her condition is still very serious at this time.' Dozens saw the incident and rushed to try and lift the tree, a witness said. Accountant Ishan Madan, 39, from Westcliff-on-Sea, was playing in a cricket match nearby when he heard a 'horrendous, screeching scream'. He said: 'Everyone ran towards the clubhouse, where the tree is. 'The tree had snapped and I think there were four children, the fifth one was slightly further away, I think she'd been hit by a branch. 'Two of them were under a smaller branch, they were rescued easily, and unfortunately, the other two girls, they were stuck under this massive tree. 'So we got bystanders to help, it must have been 40 to 50 people who then tried to lift the fallen tree up and to our horror, these two little girls, poor girls, were stuck underneath it. 'Their mother was on the corner. 'It was horrendous.' Mr Madan said that he had heard the children were walking on a path when the tree fell. He continued: 'You'd never think something like this could happen and there were a lot of people at our club that were shocked, including myself. 'It was horrendous. 'It was like a nightmare that you'd sort of wake up from and then someone would tell you it wasn't true. 'You couldn't imagine kids walking in the park and something like this happening.' Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett said that those who rushed to help 'showed the best of Southend'.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Girl, seven, killed after tree collapses in Essex park
A seven-year-old girl has died and a six-year-old girl is in a critical condition after a tree collapsed in an Essex park. Three more children received minor injuries and received hospital treatment after the tree fell in Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, shortly before 3pm on Saturday. Advertisement Dozens saw the incident and rushed to try and lift the tree, a witness said. Accountant Ishan Madan, 39, from Westcliff-on-Sea, was playing in a cricket match nearby when he heard a 'horrendous, screeching scream'. He said: 'Everyone ran towards the clubhouse, where the tree is. 'The tree had snapped and I think there were four children, the fifth one was slightly further away, I think she'd be hit by a branch. Advertisement 'Two of them were under a smaller branch, they were rescued easily, and unfortunately, the other two girls, they were stuck under this massive tree. 'So we got bystanders to help, it must have been 40 to 50 people who then tried to lift the fallen tree up and to our horror, these two little girls, poor girls, were stuck underneath it. 'Their mother was on the corner. It was horrendous.' Mr Madan said that he had heard the children were walking on a path when the tree fell. Advertisement He continued: 'You'd never think something like this could happen and there were a lot of people at our club that were shocked, including myself. 'It was horrendous. It was like a nightmare that you'd sort of wake up from and then someone would tell you it wasn't true. You couldn't imagine kids walking in the park and something like this happening.' Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett of Essex Police 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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement 'Today's loss is one they will all take personally.' An investigation is ongoing to find out what happened. MP for Southend West and Leigh, David Burton-Sampson, 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.'
