We heard a cracking sound then a tree came crashing down on Amy’s back
A TEENAGER suffered a broken spine after a tree fell on her in the gardens of a stately home.
Amy Brooke was visiting Plas Newydd, Anglesey, with her friend Ffion Wynn Davies when they heard a “crackling sound” from above them.
When they realised a tree was about to fall they ran, but it crashed onto Amy’s back and left her trapped on the ground.
Staff from the National Trust attraction had to saw branches off the tree before it could be lifted off her.
The 18-year-old from nearby Menai Bridge was rushed to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, by ambulance.
She sustained a broken spine, vertebrae, pelvis and arm.
Speaking to the press, her best friend Ffion said: “We went to Plas Newydd at about 4pm when we decided to go for a walk in the gardens.
“We’d only been there around 15 minutes, we were walking on a path and we heard a crackle.
“Amy was only a few steps behind me but when we realised what the noise was we both ran. Within milliseconds I felt the branches of the tree brush over my head and back.
“I thought to myself ‘thank God it just missed me’, but before I had chance to look behind me I heard Amy screaming.
“I couldn’t see her and I frantically started pulling branches off before I saw her lying face down under the tree.
“I called for help and two people nearby went and got some members of staff while I rang for an ambulance and called her parents.
“While I was waiting I tried to pull away all the branches that were putting pressure on her and then a member of staff turned up with a saw and started cutting bits of the tree away.”
She added: “When the ambulance arrived the paramedics had to turn Amy over onto her back to get her on the stretcher and she said it was the worst pain she’d ever felt in her life. It was horrible to see that.”
Amy’s father Dominic said they will find out today whether Amy will be transferred to Stoke but have been warned she faces at least six weeks in bed.
“Amy was hoping to start her degree in geography at Leeds University in September pending her A-level results, but we don’t know how long she will be in hospital and recovering,” he said.
“I arrived at the scene to find my daughter beneath a tree, it was awful and although the staff took our details we’ve not heard anything from them since.
“No one from the National Trust has even contacted us to find out how she’s doing or the extent of her injuries. I have referred the incident to the Health and Safety Executive.”
A notice on the Plas Newydd website yesterday stated: “A number of areas of the grounds are closed today due to safety checks that need to be carried out.”
A National Trust spokesman said of Friday’s incident: “Our thoughts and best wishes are with the person involved and her family. We hope and wish she makes a full recovery.
“We’ve closed parts of the site as a safety precaution while checks are undertaken. We will be conducting a full and thorough investigation into what happened and the matter has been referred further.”