Manchester horror as woman killed by huge tree which suddenly 'snapped'

A woman was killed in a horror incident after a massive tree branch "snapped" and fell on her on a busy road.

The woman, aged in her 40s, was killed on Barlow Moor Road in West Didsbury, Manchester this weekend after a large branch fell from a tree. Emergency services rushed to the road following a call at around 7.15pm on Saturday evening, but were unfortunately unable to save her

She died at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics, with her death causing shock in the local community. Locals near the scene at the time of the incident have described the moment they saw the branch "snap".

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A member of staff at nearby Barlow Moor petrol station told Manchester Evening News the branch fell as the woman walked beneath a tree.

They said: "The tree just snapped, it was a big branch and just fell. A woman was walking underneath. The weather was a bit windy but not strong. A few locals came out and some of them were doctors so they were trying to help her.

"Then the ambulance came and police closed the road." The worker, who wished not to be named, added that several branches fell at once.

"It is a big tree and it was a massive branch that fell - blocking off all the road. It was two or three thick branches that fell at once."

Manchester councillor Richard Kilpatrick, Liberal Democrat member for Didsbury West, said the incident was "really awful and tragic".

He said: "It is a really awful and tragic situation and the worst possible timing for someone to be under there." One couple walking their dog on Barlow Moor Road the day following the incident said it was "tragic" and "so random". The pair told the MEN: "It's really tragic. And so random. Anyone could have been walking along here."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said the force is not treating the woman's death as suspicious. They said: "At around 7.15pm on Saturday, August 30, we were called to reports a tree had fallen onto a woman on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury.

"Despite the best efforts of emergency workers, a woman in her 40s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The death is not being treated as suspicious."