I lifted tree crushing children in Southend park horror - women were wailing as men cried

A cricketer has spoken of rushing to lift a tree off of injured children in a park in Southend after it collapsed. A horrendous five individuals were rushed to hospital this afternoon following the incident in Chalkwell Park. A girl, 7, has since died from her injuries, it has been confirmed.

The member of Old Brentwoods Cricket Club, who wished to remain anonymous, was playing an away game against Westcliff Cricket Club, which is based in the park, when the tree, described as around the height of a house or three storey building, fell. He told The Express of helping, along with other members of the public, two trapped girls, and the sound of a woman wailing and screaming for around half an hour.

The man also recalled that he thought about his own two daughters during the rescue. Around 50 people altogether helped in various ways after the tree collapsed, which, he said, looked like it was being "preserved", as some "metal poles" were attached. The man, who was fielding when he saw some of his teammates head in the direction of the incident, said: "They heard a snap, bang, and then they heard a woman just wail and scream. I'm guessing it was one of the girl's mums. She was screaming for about half an hour. Everyone could hear her scream. That's why they went over to see what was happening."

He added: "Everyone just got their hands on it, and we managed to move it quite quick.

"It's just crazy. I'm not good with words, so I don't know how to say it. I've got two girls. That was what I was thinking of at the time.

"I saw the little girl underneath the tree and straight away, I was like she's going to be no older than my oldest girl."

The man added: "It just felt like something you see in the news, you know when like a building collapses and people are pulling a kid out of the rubble.

"There was a lot of females watching and they were just crying. Even some men were crying, I'm not going to lie."

Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett of Essex Police said: "Families are facing unimaginable hardship this evening, and all of our thoughts are with them at this time. I cannot begin to put into words how difficult today's events have been, and continue to be, for them.

"It's also not lost on me how traumatic it must have been for the members of the public who witnessed this awful incident. Across a matter of moments, many of them went from enjoying the warm summer weather to rushing to the aid of strangers without a second thought. They showed the best of Southend today, and I'm sorry this update does not bring them more positive news.

"My officers, and our partners with the ambulance and fire service, did all they could to help the two injured children. Today's loss is one they will all take personally.

"We will ensure support is in place for all of our emergency service responders who provided aid at the scene."