A woman who died when a tree branch fell and hit her at Darwin’s botanic gardens was a South African national, Northern Territory Police say.
Key points:
- A South African couple were walking through the botanic gardens when a tree branch fell and struck them
- A 28-year-old woman died as a result of the incident, with a 33-year-old man currently in a stable condition
- Police say the branch fell from an African mahogany tree, which has a history of causing deaths in the NT
Emergency services were called to the scene at 1pm on Sunday following reports two people had been struck by a large tree branch.
A 28-year-old woman was declared dead by paramedics, with her 33-year-old South African husband — who was also struck — transported to Royal Darwin Hospital.
The man remains in hospital in a stable condition, NT Health said.
NT Police Acting Commander Peter Kennon said the couple were walking past an African mahogany tree when one of its branches fell.
“There were certainly some people nearby who did witness the incident and rendered assistance immediately,” he said.
“I understand it was a confronting scene.”
He said the couple had recently arrived in Darwin, and that the South African consulate had been advised of the incident.
Hundreds of the African mahogany trees fell during Cyclone Marcus. (ABC News: Neda Vanovac)
The botanic gardens, which is managed by Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife (NTPW), remains closed to the public.
NTPW declined to comment.
Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis called for the removal of African mahoganies on council-managed land following Cyclone Marcus in 2018.
The cyclone caused hundreds of African mahoganies to be uprooted in Darwin, blocking roads and causing damage to cars and homes.
The NT coroner has previously found the deaths of two people in the Northern Territory caused by falling African mahogany tree branches were preventable.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles described the incident as an “absolute tragedy”.
“My heart goes out to her family, her friends, to those that witnessed and responded to that accident,” she said.
“It has rocked our community deeply.”
www.abc.net.au
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-09/woman-killed-tree-branch-south-african-national/102950582
