She sadly died at the scene
The fallen branch of a birch tree on Stanton Avenue in Didsbury(Image: UGC )
A woman has tragically died after being hit by a tree branch in south Manchester.
Emergency services were called out to West Didsbury at around 7.15pm on Saturday evening (August 30).
A large branch had fallen from a tree on Barlow Moor Road at the junction with Stanton Avenue.
Greater Manchester Police says the woman, who was aged in her 40s, sadly died at the scene, despite the best efforts of emergency services.
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A member of staff at Barlow Moor petrol station, who asked not to be named, described seeing the tree ‘snap’ moments before the tragedy unfolded.
They said: “The tree just snapped, it was a big branch and just fell. A woman was walking underneath.
“The weather was a bit windy but not strong. A few locals came out and some of them were doctors so they were trying to help her. Then the ambulance came and police closed the road.
“It is a big tree and it was a massive branch that fell – blocking off all the road. It was two or three thick branches that fell at once.”
The spot where the branch fell away(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Mark Jones had been on his way back from Didsbury Pride when he noticed a cordon in the area on Saturday night.
He said: “The road was cordoned off by police and we weren’t sure what was going on, then we saw they had put white screens up, so sadly we knew that someone had died.
“It was breezy and there was a bit of rain but nothing heavy. It’s an awful thing to have happened.”
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News as they walked their dog on Barlow Moor Road this morning (Sunday), a couple said: “It’s really tragic. And so random. Anyone could have been walking along here.”
Manchester councillor Richard Kilpatrick, Liberal Democrat member for Didsbury West, added: “It is a really awful and tragic situation and the worst possible timing for someone to be under there. “
There are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
A GMP spokesperson said: “At around 7.15pm on Saturday, August 30, we were called to reports a tree had fallen onto a woman on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury.
“Despite the best efforts of emergency workers, a woman in her 40s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
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