Girl playing on obstacle course strap dies after palm tree falls on her
A nine-year-old girl was playing on an obstacle course strap when a palm tree fell and killed her days before Halloween.
The girl was enjoying herself along with several other children inside the Smith Farm gated community in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday.
Rescue crews arrived at the scene shortly after 6pm and found three children injured, according to WPTV.
The girl, whose identity has not been released, was rushed to Delray Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Two other hurt children were taken to a local trauma center. An eight-year-old boy sustained minor injuries, said the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and did not immediately disclose the condition of the third child.
The girl’s family told detectives that their daughter and a few of her friends were playing on an obstacle course strap fastened between two big palm trees, WPEC reported. One of the trees was uprooted and landed on her.
Her parents told the TV station that they were heading to grief counseling with one of their other kids who was playing on the obstacle course strap at the same time.
No criminal intent is suspected, sheriff’s spokeswoman Teri Barbera told WPTV.
Both trees looked stable and healthy, but reportedly had some rotting inside.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Coral Reef Elementary School Principal Sean Bohne in a phone call to parents and students shared the news with ‘great sadness’ and said he had been in contact with the victim’s family.
‘Please monitor your students’ behavior for any signs of distress related to this. Please do not hesitate to send any students to a counselor for help,’ said the principal in the phone call. ‘At Coral Reef Elementary, we are a family who grieves our losses together.’
A candlelight vigil for the girl is set to be held on Thursday evening.
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