Latest news with #WittonCountryPark
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Husband of woman, 32, who died sacrificing herself to push daughter, five, out way of falling branch reveals desperate attempts to save her
The heartbroken husband of a woman who died sacrificing herself by pushing her young daughter out the way of a falling tree branch has revealed how he desperately tried to save his wife. 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.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Blackburn mother killed by falling branch 'saved daughter's life'
A mother killed by a falling tree branch "saved her daughter's life by pushing her out of the way" just in time, a member of her family has Kauser, 32, was walking in Witton Country Park in Blackburn with her husband and two children on Monday when she was fatally struck, her great-uncle Zamir Khan Blackburn with Darwen councillor said Mrs Kauser's husband and nine-year-old son had been walking in front of her and their five-year-old daughter when the "one-in-a-million" tragedy Khan said her great-niece "loved her kids to bits" and would be remembered as a "very caring mum who died saving her daughter". 'Deeply saddened' "She was very kind-hearted and would go out of her way for anyone," he added."We are all devastated."Mr Khan said family members from all over the country had travelled to Blackburn to attend her funeral, which is due to take place later. Blackburn with Darwen Council, which owns the 480-acre (195-hectare) park, said it was "deeply saddened" and had since chopped down the beech tree from which the branch had local authority's chief executive Denise Park 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."Lancashire Police said it was preparing a file for the coroner and said the woman's death was not being treated as services said they her unresponsive near the Buncer Lane entrance to the park just after 20:30 was pronounced dead at the scene. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Times
6 days ago
- Times
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'.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Flowers left for woman killed by tree branch in Blackburn park
Flowers have been laid at the tree where a woman was killed by a falling gypsophila were placed on the stump of the tree which was felled after the branch struck the woman, believed to be in her 30s, as she walked with a child in Blackburn's Witton Country services found the woman unresponsive near the Buncer Lane entrance to the park just after 20:30 BST on was pronounced dead at the scene. The area was cordoned off and Blackburn with Darwen Council, which owns the 480-acre park, said it had since chopped down the beech tree from which the branch had members of the woman's family arrived at the scene shortly a statement, the council said it was "deeply saddened" to confirm the woman's death in Witton Park, "when a large tree branch fell". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Woman killed by falling tree branch ‘while walking with child' in country park
A young woman has died after being hit by a falling branch in a park. The woman, in her 30s, was struck by the branch near the Buncer Lane entrance of Blackburn's Witton Country Park, Lancashire, just after 8.30pm on Monday. Paramedics rushed to the park shortly after she was hit but she died shortly afterwards, according to Lancashire Police. According to local reports, the woman was walking with a child at the time. A Lancashire Police spokesperson: 'We were called to Witton Park, Preston Old Road, Blackburn following reports a woman had been struck by a falling tree branch. 'Emergency services attended and found the woman unresponsive. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. 'Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner in due course." A council statement 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 yesterday, when a large tree branch fell.' Witton Country Park is 480 acres of mixed woodland, parkland and farmland, and is to the west of Blackburn. The estate was once owned by the Feilden family, who built and lived in Witton House (1800 - 1946) and created the park at the same time. From approximately 1900 the house was empty for long periods and during both world wars the house and estate were used by the army. Witton House was demolished in 1952, after being sold to Blackburn Corporation in 1946. The Witton Estate, comprising some 485 acres, was included in this sale.
