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Child, 7, dies after tree falls in park

Louise Parry
BBC News, Essex
Elliot Deady/BBC In the foreground is police tape across a promenade. Black railings fence off an area of park and you can see fallen branches of a huge tree, that looks like a variety of fir or cedar. Its trunk is dark and thick and at least two very large branches are spread out sideways. Two people are looking at it from the left side of the picture.Elliot Deady/BBC
Police tape cordons off the area where children were injured when a tree fell at Chalkwell Park in Essex

A child has died and another is in critical condition after a tree fell in a park.

Essex Police were called to Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea to reports that "a number of children were caught beneath the tree and suffered injuries".

Five children were taken to hospital, but the force later confirmed that a seven-year-old girl had died and her family were being supported by officers.

It added that another girl, six, suffered serious injuries and was in a critical condition.

Elliot Deady/BBC A different viewpoint of the fallen tree, seen from the side. Half of the trunk is split down the middle and the top is missing entirely. There are branches on the floor and yellow hazard tape al around. A person in white forensic outfit walks past three onlookers. A series of smart wooden benches lines the edge of the lawn, were other trees also stand.Elliot Deady/BBC
Southend-on-Sea City Council asked the public to stay away from the area while emergency workers continued on the scene

Three other children sustained minor injuries and were being treated in hospital.

Police said investigations were continuing at the park to establish the circumstances around this incident.

Aaron Chesham A red helicopter with yellow stripes on the tail hovers above the lawn of a large park, about 2 metres above it. You can see an ambulance on the road next to the park and cars parked alongside the fence. There are trees around the edge of the park.Aaron Chesham
Two air ambulances attended the incident and five children were taken to hospital by land ambulance

Ch SuptLeighton 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."

He continued: "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."

He added that support would be put in place for emergency service responders who went to the incident.

Aaron Chesham Five white police cars with yellow and blue neon checks are all parked in a row alongside the park, which is edged with large trees in leaf. One car has its blue flashing lights on. There is a traffic light on green to the left of the shot. Aaron Chesham
Emergency services were called just before 15:00 after a tree fell in Chalkwell Park in Southend