Girl of 8 dies after getting trapped under pile of logs
A GIRL of eight died yesterday after she became trapped under logs on a hillside.
A 12-year-old girl was also injured in the incident in a Scottish forest and was airlifted to hospital.
Emergency services were called to the Barcaldine woods just north of Oban, Argyll, at 2.40pm.
Paramedics attended the eightyear-old, who has not been named, but were unable to save her.
The 12-year-old is being treated in Oban Hospital but the extent of injuries was unknown last night.
Police Scotland said last night that inquiries are continuing but that they do not believe the girl’s death was suspicious. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed. The forest attracts more than 12,000 visitors a year and the path to the 1,000ft hill, Ben Lora, has been fenced off since spring by the Forestry Commission to allow tree felling and there are warning signs in the area.
Lewis Morrison, who runs the nearby Ledaig Motors and Ledaig Leisure shop, said: ‘This is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of this small community are with the girls’ families. Accidents on the hill here are very rare.
‘The Ben Lora walks have been closed. It’s all fenced off at this end. It’s completely closed, there is fell- ing extraction going on and the bigger trees have been getting dropped down here at the car park. But I wouldn’t have thought there would have been any felling on a Sunday.’
A notice on the Forestry Commission website warns that Ben Lora is undergoing substantial tree felling works which will affect access.
It reads: ‘From March the facility will be fully closed and will be throughout tree-felling operations to ensure public safety. This is estimated to be around six months.’
A post on the local community council Facebook page said: ‘Child hurt on Ben Lora having become trapped under logs. Many emergency vehicles using the Glensallach road. Thoughts with the victim, family and emergency services.’