Mum, 32, killed by falling branch after pushing five-year-old daughter out way

A mother who was killed by a falling tree branch while on a walk in a country park managed to push her daughter out of the way first, it has been revealed.

Madia Kauser, 32, was visiting Witton Country Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, with her family on Monday evening when the freak accident happened.

According to the Daily Mail, she was looking after her five-year-old daughter in a pushchair while her husband Wasim Khan walked ahead with their nine-year-old son.

When the beech branch fell above Madia, she was able to push her daughter far enough away that she escaped unscathed, the newspaper said.

Wasim rushed to help her but was unable to, and his wife was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Several of Madia’s relatives arrived at the park shortly afterwards.

Local councillor Zamir Khan, an uncle in the family, told the Mail: ‘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.’

Blackburn Council has since cut down the remainder of the beech and removed branches from nearby trees.

A post on the Blackburn Muslim Facebook page said: ‘Please keep this mother and her young children in your prayers.’

Dozens of tributes to Madia and her family were left in the comments.

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: ‘Witton Park is a much-loved community space, and the safety of everyone who visits is of the utmost importance to us.’

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

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