THE tree that killed a seven-year-old girl was propped up by metal bars for years and was a known danger, locals have said.
Essex Police scrambled to the scene on Saturday after the tree collapsed crushing a group of children.
BPMThe collapsed tree at Chalkwell Park[/caption]
BPMThe area was cordoned off[/caption]
ROB WELHAM / McLELLANTributes laid at the scene on Sunday[/caption]
MirrorpixParts of the tree were being held up by metal poles[/caption]
A six-year-old girl, who was also caught under the tree as it fell, is still fighting for her life in hospital.
Three other children were also hospitalised with minor injuries.
Locals said the very old cedar tree had been propped up by metal supports for at least a decade and it was a “known danger”.
Councillor James Courtenay also said he believed it had been supported by poles for years.
One witness said he would “never forget the screams” that rang out as the tree crashed down.
‘Family on day out’
Another person told The Sun today the girl who died is understood to have been visiting the park from London with her family.
She said: “Clearly they were a family coming for a day out.
“I don’t know for sure but I think the mother was with a sister and maybe another mother with a child who was involved.”
Fighting back tears the woman added of the moment the tree fell: “It was like a bomb had exploded.
“Everyone in the immediate vicinity got involved when we heard the tree crack.
“Everyone helped and lifted the tree. I don’t know how they did it, it must have taken about 40 men.
“You’re thinking, were safety checks done recently?”
She continued: “I’m sure it was on somebody’s list on the council somewhere but with the state of things at the moment I’m sure it could get kicked to the curb.
“It feels so obvious now that something like that could happen.”
The woman believes the tree is “likely to be 100 plus, 200 years old.”
Locals left flowers, soft toys and cards at the scene of the tragedy on Sunday morning as officers could be seen investigating behind a police cordon.
One note read: “Rest in peace. Sorry for your loss, sending love and prayers.”
A cricketer for Old Brentwoods Cricket Club, was playing an away game against Westcliff at the time of the incident, had dashed to the scene and helped free the children yesterday.
ROB WELHAM / McLELLANA person lays flowers[/caption]
ROB WELHAM / McLELLANThe scene on Sunday morning[/caption]
ROB WELHAM / McLELLANThe tree partially collapsed[/caption]
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Express: “Everyone just got their hands on it, and we managed to move it quite quick.
“I saw the little girl underneath the tree and straight away, I was like she’s going to be no older than my oldest girl.”
He added: “There was a lot of females watching and they were just crying. Even some men were crying, I’m not going to lie.”
Another witness told the Mirror two children were under a smaller branch, and “they were rescued easily”.
But the other two girls “were stuck under this massive tree”.
A local business owner told MailOnline the park was “absolutely heaving with families and kids” who will have been “traumatised”.
“It’s a huge cedar tree. The branches are thicker than a human being.
“It looks to me like the whole top of the tree has come down.”
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.
Clearly they were a family coming for a day out. I don’t know for sure but I think the mother was with a sister and maybe another mother with a child who was involved. I got the impression they were a family and I think they were maybe Turkish origin.
Eyewitness
“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.”
Chief Superintendent 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.”
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson told the BBC: “Two children were transported by road to Southend University Hospital.
“A further three children were later transported by road to the same hospital with minor injuries.”
“Six ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, the London Air Ambulance and Kent Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.”
Do you know more? Email [email protected]
ROB WELHAM / McLELLANFloral tributes lined up[/caption]
TwitterA seven-year old girl was killed and another is fighting for her life[/caption]
TwitterAir ambulances rushed to the park where a tree fell and hurt several children[/caption]
TwitterLocals who had flocked to the popular park in the sunny weather rushed to help the children[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
