Council safety notice after mum killed by branch

Madia Kauser was walking in the park with her family when she was hit by a tree

A council has been served with an improvement notice after a mother was killed by a falling tree branch in one of its parks.

Madia Kauser, 32, was walking with her husband and two children in Witton Park in Blackburn, Lancashire, when the tree fell on her on 11 August.

The HSE said the council failed to undertake a survey in the park to inspect all trees within falling distance of main footpaths.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said it was continuing to extend its deepest sympathies to Mrs Kauser's family and was co-operating fully with the HSE investigation.

Mrs Kauser's family said she saved her daughter's life by pushing her out of the way as the tree branch fell.

The news has been welcomed by her Mrs Kauser's husband, Wasim Khan, as he wants to prevent "anything like this happening again - especially to children", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Drastic improvements'

Mr Khan said he met the HSE who confirmed their investigations will likely go into next year.

"Clearly the Health and Safety Executive's enforcement order to improve shows there was need for drastic improvements.

"The most important thing is that the council follow up on any advice given," he said.

"Any place where the public are going to enjoy a day out should be checked for potential health and safety hazards.

"Through my extremely difficult tragedy I want to do my upmost best to make sure the council understand this to avoid any tragedies in the future."

He added the HSE's work to protect the safety of the public was "outstanding".

The council's chief executive Denise Park said: "The investigation is ongoing, and we are providing our full cooperation to the Health and Safety Executive."

A HSE spokeswoman said: "As this is a live investigation we cannot share any further details."

Mrs Kauser's great uncle has previously said her great-niece "loved her kids to bits" and would be remembered as a "very caring mum who died saving her daughter".

He added: "She was very kind-hearted and would go out of her way for anyone."

A fundraising page has been set up by one of Mrs Kauser's friends to support the couple's children.