Father who desperately tried to save his wife when she was crushed by a falling tree branch as they walked through park pays tribute - as police urge witnesses to come forward
Madia Kauser, 32, from Blackburn, had been walking with her five-year-old daughter, nine-year-old son and husband at a local beauty spot when a branch fell towards them.
The mother had been pushing her daughter in a pram, and in a final desperate act she was able to push her daughter to safety before taking the full force of the branch.
Her husband, Wasim Khan, 33, was just yards ahead with their nine-year-old son when the branch fell, but was powerless to act in time during the shocking episode in Witton Country Park at around 8.30pm on Monday, August 11.
He rushed to her side, but little could be done for his tragic wife, who relatives say adored her children.
Mr Khan has today spoken of his devastating loss and how he 'she was my comfort, my partner in life and the love of my life'.
He said: 'My wife, a mother of two, a daughter, sister and a friend we lost to a tragic event that came on the way home from a family day out in the park.
'She was the most beautiful woman in the world, she did everything for our two children, she did everything she could for anyone and would bring smiles whenever she entered the room.
'She was my comfort, my partner in life and the love of my life. We have so many great memories, went through pain together and started a family together.
'Honestly, I feel completely lost without her and I do not know how to put into words how much I miss her face, her character and her presence. My one and only.'
Mr Khan was playing football just yards ahead with the couple's nine-year-old son when the branch fell.
Speaking of the moment he battled to save his wife as she lay injured, he said: 'I rushed to her. I tried to save her, she was still breathing.'
He also revealed his wife's haunting last post on Snapchat - a picture of a tree which she had taken while they were leaving the park.
Describing how the tragedy unfolded, Mr Khan said: 'I was playing football with my son and kicked the ball in the wrong direction and we were going after it.
'I heard a crack and the tree just came down. There was no wind, nothing. The tree was standing straight, not even leaning, and then it just came down.
'She was hit by a branch but it had the full weight of the tree behind it and that is why the council had to cut it all down.
Speaking of the moment he battled to save his wife as she lay injured, Mr Khan said: 'I rushed to her. I tried to save her, she was still breathing.'
'I rushed to her. I tried to save her - she was still breathing.'
Mr Khan called emergency services, who rushed to the scene but were unable to save his wife.
He went on: 'I cannot praise the paramedics enough. They were there in six minutes and the doctors came from the local hospital but nothing could be done.
'I have spoken to someone at the coroners office and they tell me she had chest fractures and her lungs had collapsed.
He added: 'She was the most beautiful and loyal person you would ever wish to meet. She was loved by many but especially by her children. We are left here without her.'
And he added: 'The last picture she took was of a tree. She took it as we were leaving the park.
'She told me it was time to go home. She said she wanted to shower and feed the children.
'She has left us. Now there is just me and my children.'
Two days after the fatal incident, Blackburn council completely cut down what remained of the tree from which the branch fell, as well as lopping off branches from several other nearby trees.
A joint investigation is underway between Lancashire Police and the Health and Safety Executive, and detectives are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Iain Czapowski said: 'This is an absolutely tragic incident which has cost a young woman her life and my thoughts are with her loved ones.
'We are working closely with our colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive and with the co-operation of the council to try and establish the full circumstances of what happened, and I would like to speak to anyone with information which could assist with that.
'I am especially keen to speak to anyone who actually saw what happened on that fateful night and I would urge them to contact us.'
The accident happened just yards from the park's Big Cover wood, where trees form the majority of the habitat.
Relatives from all over the country gathered at Blackburn's Madina mosque two days after Madia's death where the family were hoping a funeral could take place sometime in the evening.
Former mayor and still sitting councillor Zamir Khan MBE, an uncle in the tight-knit family, said Madia's body was still with the coroner.
He said: 'Her little girl told me her mother pushed her out of the way as the branch fell.
'Madia was a loving, doting mother and a very caring person.
'The older boy was walking with his father in front and could not believe what happened.
'It is very hard for the children. I do not think they will ever walk in that park again.'
In a statement, the council said it was 'deeply saddened' after the accident and confirmed the tree had been felled.
The authority's chief executive, Denise Park said: 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolence are with the family and friends of the person who has lost their life at this very difficult time.'
He added: 'Witton Park is a much-loved community space, and the safety of everyone who visits is of the utmost importance to us.
'Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the family at this very sad time.'
A cyclist who rides through the park every day said: 'I have seen loads of fallen branches before, but it is mainly because of high winds.
'There wasn't even a breeze when this poor woman was killed. It is utterly heartbreaking.
'I shudder to think what her poor children and husband are going through.'
Many people walking there today were unaware of the tragedy and thought the council were carrying out unnecessary tree work.
One said: 'I was initially cross that they had cut the tree down until someone told me what had happened. It doesn't bear thinking about.'
Local councillor Paul Marrow said: 'There have been concerns about ash dieback disease and the number of dead trees in Witton Park and across the borough.
'The council needs to make regular, thorough inspections of the trees in the park to ensure they are safe.'
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