Tragic tree branch kills woman in Witton Country Park

A woman in her 30s died after a falling branch struck her while she walked with a child at Witton Country Park in Blackburn.

Tragic tree branch kills woman in Witton Country Park

A woman in her 30s died after a tree branch struck her while she was walking with a child at Witton Country Park in Blackburn, Lancashire. The incident happened just after 8 30 pm near the Buncer Lane entrance. Police were called to Preston Old Road and found the woman unresponsive. Emergency services declared her dead at the scene. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council later felled the beech tree from which the branch fell as a safety measure.

The deceased was from Blackburn and family members arrived at the scene as investigators began work. Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner in due course. The park covers 480 acres and will likely see ongoing safety and maintenance work in the wake of this tragedy.

The event shows how quickly a public space can become a site of loss. It underscores the pressure on local authorities to balance park openness with proactive safety measures, including tree health checks and weather-related risk planning. Communication after such incidents matters; early statements shape public trust and expectations for accountability.

Going forward, transparency about inspection schedules, clear safety guidance for visitors, and robust support for families affected will matter as much as the investigation itself. This tragedy could prompt broader discussions about how parks allocate resources to prevent similar accidents while keeping greenspaces accessible to communities.

Highlights

Safety in shared spaces remains a work in progress for communities.