3 days ago
Mother killed by falling tree branch in front of her children
A mother was killed in front of her two young children when a tree branch fell on her in a park in Lancashire.
The woman, named locally as Madia Kauser, 32, was struck while walking in Witton Country Park in Blackburn on Monday evening.
Blackburn with Darwen council, which owns the 480-acre park, has since felled the beech tree from which the branch fell.
Kauser was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Several of her relatives arrived shortly after.
One tributes on social media described her as a 'lovely person', and another said: 'I honestly can't even believe what I read.'
The Muslim community in the town is believed to be holding prayers for Kauser and offering its condolences to her young children.
Fahid Abbas, a funeral director, announced her death, writing: 'It is with a heavy heart to inform you that Madia Kauser, beloved daughter, beloved sister and beloved wife sadly departed from this temporary abode, of Blackburn.'
The Facebook group Blackburn Muslim posted a notice of condolences saying: 'Please keep this mother and her young children in your prayers.'
The council said: 'Blackburn with Darwen borough council is deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has tragically died following an incident in Witton Park, when a large tree branch fell.'
Denise Park, chief executive of the council, said: 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family and friends of the person who has lost their life at this very difficult time.'
She added that the council had cordoned off the area for public safety, and the tree was felled as 'part of precautionary safety measures'.
Lancashire police said that the woman's death was not being treated as suspicious and a file would be prepared for the coroner.
Paul Marrow, a local councillor, said there should be regular inspections of trees in the park, adding that there had been 'concerns about ash dieback disease and the number of dead trees in Witton Park and across the borough'.
