A falling palm tree has struck and killed a four-year-old girl playing in a Darwin backyard, in what’s been described as “a freak” accident.
In a statement, NT Police said emergency services were called to the Tiwi yard about 1:55pm on Saturday afternoon.
They tried to take the girl to a nearby hospital for treatment, but she could not be saved.
“Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital; however, she was pronounced deceased prior to arrival,” the statement said.
Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene, but the girl died before arriving at hospital. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
The tree also struck an 11-year-old boy, but police said his injuries were “non-life-threatening”.
NT police on Saturday had said the girl who died was seven years old, but on Monday confirmed she was four years old.
Police said its investigations were “ongoing”, but they did not believe the incident to be suspicious.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Falling tree risk in Top End
A number of tree-related deaths have been recorded in the NT over time.
Almost two years ago, a falling tree branch at Darwin’s botanic gardens struck and killed a South African woman as she was walking with her partner.
In 2013, a falling palm tree south of Darwin struck and killed a Coomalie Council worker at Batchelor.
Palm trees can be seen across the Top End, in both backyards and public spaces, but it’s important to maintain them because tropical conditions can present challenges. (ABC News: Neda Vanovac)
NT-born arborist Ben Kenyon said, although the exact circumstances that caused the tree to fall in this incident were unclear, it was a tragedy.
“For a person to be in exactly the wrong spot at exactly the right time, is really rare,” Mr Kenyon said.
“Quite often, it is a bit of a freak event.
“[My] thoughts go out to the family for sure — it’s tragic.”
Mr Kenyon, who runs an arboriculture business in Melbourne but frequently visits the NT, said it was important to monitor and maintain backyard trees, particularly in tropical areas such as the Top End.
“A fungi getting into the trunk of a tree in the Top End can kill it within 3-12 months — a very similar fungi in a similar tree in the southern states may take 5-10 years,” he said.
“It’s just far, far quicker with the growth rates that you have and the humidity and the style of tree that you have in the Top End.”