14 Feb 2023

Person critically injured after tree falls near Auckland playground

10:12 pm on 14 February 2023

By Sapeer Mayron, Melanie Earley and Katie Ham of Stuff

Tree injures person near Madills Farm, playground in Kohimarama, central Auckland during Cyclone Gabrielle

A person has been critically injured after a tree fell near Madills Farm. Photo: Stuff/ Ricky Wilson

A person is in a critical condition after a tree fell near Madills Farm, a popular playground in Kohimarama, central Auckland.

A resident who lives near Madills Farm said they heard an "almighty crash followed by lots of shouting" just after 3.30pm on Tuesday.

"I walked all through the park after it happened but couldn't see anything.

"I think the accident actually happened at one of the addresses further up the street," the person said.

The resident said emergency services arrived "super fast" and stayed on the scene for at least an hour.

At 6pm a St John critical response vehicle and an ambulance were still on Allum St.

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The area was feeling the after-effects of Cyclone Gabrielle on Tuesday, which dumped even more water on ground that was still sodden from the record-breaking rain of Auckland Anniversary weekend.

"The wind still hasn't let up - we were hoping it would have let up but it's still going," the resident said.

Auckland Council personnel remained at Madills Park at 6.30pm, alongside a vegetation specialist truck.

A police spokesperson said they received a report at 3.40pm of a tree falling and injuring a person at a reserve on Allum St.

One person was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Madills Farm Recreation Reserve is a large open space with a playground and picnic tables, and hosts the Eastern Suburbs Association Football Club.

Auckland Emergency Management duty controller Adam Maggs said he was aware of the incident.

"Our thoughts are with them and their family at this time. The police are investigating and will provide more details in due course."

This story was first published on the Stuff website.

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