Dad shares harrowing near miss after Chalkwell tree death tragedy, as expert warns of 'wake-up call'

A devastating freak tragedy has shaken the community of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, this weekend after a seven-year-old girl was killed when a tree branch fell on her at a local park.

Whilst many are mourning, many are also enraged, with a localtree expert slamming the council for their alleged lack of maintenance.

Now, a local parent has emotionally reflected on the “gut-wrenching” incident, as his seven-year-old daughter was under the same tree less than 15 minutes before the incident took another child's life.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon at Chalkwell Park,a beloved green space where families and children often gather to play and enjoy the outdoors - it's been praised for its facilities and location.

The victim, a seven-year-old girl, was pronounced dead at the hospital following the accident, while a six-year-old girl who was also injured in the incident remains in the hospital in critical condition.

READ MORE: Chalkwell Park fundraiser tops £12k less than five hours after schoolgirl, 7, dies in tree horror

As news has spread, the community has come together to mourn the loss of the young girl and to demand answers from the local council. Jay Page, a parent who lives in the local area, was at the park with his family on the day of the incident and shared his own harrowing reflections.

He told the Mirror: "We were at my son's football presentation at the park, and his sister went to play under the tree that fell to get in the shade, where she spent most of the day. We go to Chalkwell quite regularly, it’s a decent park with good facilities and shops nearby so it's ideal for a family."

Jay said, "We left around 2:45pm as we needed to go shopping, and at least eight police cars flew past us. If we had stayed for a bit longer, which my son wanted to, there's no doubt she would have been under that tree still.

"She is the same age as the girl who passed away, and it's absolutely gut-wrenching to think what could have been. I consider us incredibly lucky, and my heart is absolutely broken for her parents. Nobody should go for a fun day out and not return."

Meanwhile, a local tree expert, who wished to remain anonymous, was critical of the council's alleged lack of investment in tree maintenance and arboriculture. "It could be anything that caused the branch to fall," they told the Mirror. They added that the accident could be due to a lack of funding by the council in the area, which would lead to a lack of maintenance.

This expert did believe this would be a turning point for the local council; stating: “This will be a wake-up call for the council." They went on to add that there could be investment in this area now that someone has passed away but this shouldn't be the cost of things being safe.

The expert noted that the cause of the branch falling could be due to a variety of factors, including weather conditions, the age of the tree, or even potential tampering with the tree the night before. "I wouldn't know until I saw the tree," they said. They emphasised that the council has a responsibility to ensure that the trees in their care are safe and well-maintained.

The incident is currently being investigated by Essex Police, who have set up a dedicated online contact portal for witnesses to come forward. The Mayor of Southend-on-Sea will be laying flowers at Chalkwell Park on Monday, June 30, between 11:00 and 11:30, in a clearly marked area for tributes.

The park remains open to the public, but a cordon is in place as investigative work continues.

Reflecting on the incident Jay said: "I'm hoping the council will go around and check all their sites, check they're completely safe, and hopefully, this will never happen again."

As the investigation continues many will also be hoping the same as Jay especially as, with more warm weather this summer, children will naturally want to visit their local parks.

An official statement by the council has said: "An investigation is now underway to understand how this tragic incident occurred. The majority of Chalkwell Park remains open, but areas directly affected are clearly cordoned off. We ask that people continue to avoid those sections while enquiries are ongoing."

After the Mirror reach out today, the council said they were unable to answer any questions as there was an ongoing investigation.

Earlier today the Mirror Online reported that the tree which crushed the young children had been held up by flimsy poles.

READ MORE: Chalkwell Park tree UPDATES: Child still fighting for life after girl, 7, killed