Homeless man crushed to death by falling tree
Emergency services in Dean Village, where the victim had been camping in woodland.
The huge tree collapsed just off Miller Row in Dean Village.
The fallen tree trunk also remained, surrounded by piles of logs and fresh sawdust.
Locals spoke of their shock at the death but some maintained it was an accident “waiting to happen”.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said several trees had fallen along the Water of Leith in recent years.
He said: “We’ve seen a lot of trees collapsing over the last few years – it’s a common occurrence – and one that is a major concern to locals. I said only recently: ‘ Someone’s going to get killed one day’, and, sadly, someone has now been crushed to death.
“Unfortunately, this was an accident waiting to happen.”
Police are yet to name the victim but confirmed he was not local to Edinburgh.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Officers have consulted with the appropriate partners, who are confident that the tree fell as a result of natural occurrences.
“We’re currently working to trace the deceased’s next of kin, and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
More than 500 trees across the capital have been earmarked for the chop due to Dutch elm disease. It’s not known if the rogue tree involved in this tragedy was diseased.
Meanwhile, a pub and block of flats were evacuated after the wall of a restaurant roof garden collapsed and fell around 20ft into the street in Glasgow’s West End. No one was injured in the incident which happened close to the city’s bustling Byres Road.