Husband of woman, 32, who died sacrificing herself to push daughter, five, out way of falling branch reveals desperate attempts to save her
Madia Kauser, 32, was tragically crushed to death while out on a family walk with her husband Wasim Khan, 33, and their two children near Witton Country Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Monday night.
It's understood her five-year-old daughter was in a pushchair which Mrs Kauser managed to push away before taking the full force of the falling branch herself - so that her daughter survived unscathed.
Mr Khan, 33, 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 told The Sun: '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.
'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.'
Mr Khan described his wife as the 'most beautiful and loyal person'.
Relatives told the Mail how Ms Kauser was a devoted mother who adored her children.
One told the Daily Mail: 'Madia would have done anything for her children.'
On Wednesday, Blackburn council had completely cut down what remained of the tree from which the branch fell as well as lopping off branches from several other nearby trees.
The area was littered with sawdust.
The accident happened just yards from the park's Big Cover wood where trees form the majority of the habitat.
On Wednesday relatives from all over the country were gathering at Blackburn's Madina mosque 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.
'It is tarnished for them. Their father is not in a good way either. He and other members of the family have taken it very hard.
'People have come from all over the country - from Sheffield, Bradford, Birmingham, London and other places - to be at her funeral which we hoped to have this afternoon in accordance with Muslim tradition.
'But until her body is released by the coroner, we cannot move forward. We are hoping it will be released today.
'What happened was an act of nature but it is unbelievable.'
In a statement, the council said it was 'deeply saddened' after the accident on Monday.
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.
'Emergency services including paramedics and the air ambulance attended the scene. Council staff also supported by cordoning off the area to ensure public safety.
'As part of precautionary safety measures, the tree involved was being felled this morning.
'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 Lancashire Police spokesman said the woman's death was not being treated as suspicious and a file would be prepared for the coroner.
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.
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