WA: Camper injured by falling tree

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2008
WA: Camper injured by falling tree

PERTH, Dec 27 AAP - A camper was seriously hurt by a huge falling tree as he sat with
friends at a nature reserve south of Perth.

Western Australian police said the group of campers were sitting at a table at the
base of the 30-metre-tall tree at Lane Pool Reserve in Waroona Shire when the tree toppled
around 9.45pm (WST) on Friday.

The tree - which was 2.5m in diameter - fell over without warning.

Four of the campers managed to scramble clear but four others were caught, one pinned
by his legs, police spokesman Mark Valentine told AAP.

"Several members of the group said they had earlier heard some creaking noises but
could not locate the cause or location," Mr Valentine said.

"Then suddenly the tree fell on top of the group."

Police and St John Ambulance volunteers rushed to the scene, and three campers with
minor injuries were taken to the local hospital in Waroona for treatment.

The seriously injured man had to be ferried down to an oval in the town before being
airlifted to hospital in Perth, with leg and suspected spinal injuries, Mr Valentine said.

The cause of the collapse is now under investigation.

AAP sjm/jl

KEYWORD: TREE

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