Student dies after tree falls on playground at Massachusetts school
A student has died after a tree fell on a playground in Melrose, Massachusetts.
The tree fell at Winthrop Elementary School on Monday, the Melrose Fire Department confirmed to ABC News Boston affiliate WCVB-5.
Melrose Public Schools Superintendent Cari Berman and Melrose Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis shared a joint statement on Tuesday also confirming the incident.
"It is with great sadness that we share that the student who was seriously injured yesterday afternoon during the incident on the Winthrop School playground has died," the statement read.
The statement noted that two others, a student and adult, who had been injured in the incident had been discharged from area hospitals.
Berman and Grigoraitis shared resources for counseling and grief management programs, encouraging the community to take advantage of them if needed.
They ended their statement thanking first responders and community members for their support.
"This is a very sad day at Winthrop School and for our entire Melrose Community. Our deepest condolences go out to the family, and we ask that you please respect their privacy at this time," they wrote.
Footage from WCVB-5's "Sky5" helicopter this week showed a tree lying across a children's jungle gym.
"It was gusty. It was definitely gusty today, and it continues to be," neighbor Nancy Clover told the outlet, recounting the conditions at the time of the incident. "I'm just sad for this family and the child."
According to WCVB-5, the tree fell from the property of Melrose's oldest colonial home, the Phineas Upham House. Eda George, the president of the Upham Family Society, told the outlet that the trees had been checked recently and "the tree that fell gave no indication that it was at risk for falling."
ABC News has reached out to the Melrose Fire Department for more information.
