Council Issued Improvement Notice After Fatal Park Incident
A local council has been served with an improvement notice after failing to inspect trees in a country park where a 32-year-old mother was tragically crushed to death by a falling branch.
Madia Kauser, a mother-of-two, died instantly while pushing her five-year-old daughter to safety during an evening family walk in Witton Country Park, Blackburn, Lancashire on August 11.
Her husband, Wasim Khan, 33, was playing football yards ahead with their nine-year-old son when the massive branch fell without warning. Mrs Kauser's heroic actions saved her daughter from serious injury.
Heroic Mother's Final Moments Revealed
Mr Khan described rushing to his wife's side after hearing a loud crack. 'I tried to save her, she was still breathing,' he recalled during an emotional interview.
The devastated husband revealed that his wife had posted a haunting final image on Snapchat - a photograph of a tree taken as they were leaving the park that evening.
'There was no wind, nothing,' Mr Khan stated. 'The tree was standing straight, not even leaning, and then it just came down. She was hit by a branch, but it had the full weight of the tree behind it.'
Health and Safety Executive Takes Action
On October 2, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) served Blackburn with Darwen Council with a formal improvement notice alleging failure to undertake necessary tree safety checks.
The notice specifically states the council 'failed to undertake a proactive walkover survey in Witton Country Park by a competent person, to inspect all trees within falling distance of main footpaths and the public highway.'
The council has until November 7 to comply with the notice, with the investigation expected to continue into next year.
Mr Khan has welcomed the HSE's intervention, stating: 'Clearly, the Health and Safety Executive's order to improve shows there was a need for drastic improvements. The most important thing is that the council follow up on any of the advice given.'
Following the tragedy, the tree responsible was completely removed and other trees in the park had numerous branches cut down as a safety precaution.
Mrs Kauser's great uncle, former Blackburn mayor Cllr Zamir Khan MBE, described his relative as 'bubbly' and 'charming', adding that the family had been left 'devastated' by the incident.
A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: 'We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and all those affected by this tragic incident. The investigation is ongoing and we are providing our full cooperation to the Health and Safety Executive.'
