‘We heard a crack and suddenly it broke in two’: Hero father tells how he saved his son’s life when a tree collapsed on top of them in a park
- Miguel Mawate threw himself over toddler after tree suddenly fell on Saturday
- 12 people – including five children – were sitting beneath the tree at the time
- Families had been enjoying a third birthday party at a park in eastern Adelaide
- 37-year-old suffered back injuries but no-one else underneath 20m tree was hurt
A father has been hailed as a hero after saving his two-year-old son’s life by shielding him from a falling tree.
Miguel Mawate, 37, was at a birthday party in a park in eastern Adelaide when the freak accident occurred at about 1pm on Saturday.
Twelve people – including at least five children – were sitting beneath a tree when it suddenly split in two.
Mr Mawate had initially tried to get the children out of the way – but the tree came down too fast so he thew himself over his son.
Miguel Mawate (right)has been hailed as a hero after saving his two-year-old son’s life by shielding him from a falling tree
‘The tree was coming down too quick, so he actually put the children underneath him,’ witness Bianca di Brino told Channel 9.
Mr Mawate suffered back injuries and was taken to hospital, along with the 61-year-old grandfather of the birthday girl, but miraculously the young boy was uninjured.
The grandfather, Charlambos Dimitriou, had rushed to the aide of those who were under the tree when it fell and was treated for a heart condition.
Two of the children were treated for shock.
‘I guess you do anything for your kids,’ Ms di Brino told reporters at the scene.
Mick Sausse from the South Australian Country Fire Service told Channel 7 the tree could have fallen as a result of the recent hot weather coupled with rain on Saturday morning.
12 people – including five children – were sitting beneath the tree at a birthday party in a park on Barr Smith Street and a witness said Mr Mawate had initially tried to get them out of the way (pictured tree after it fell)
‘It’s got rotting in the middle of it by the look of it, we’ve had a lot of trees go down here,’ he said.
Determined not to let the freak accident affect the celebrations, the party continued as the two men recovered in hospital.
The fallen tree has been cordoned off and Burnside Council have said they will be investigating the cause.
Officials said no previous concerns had been raised about the tree, according to The Adelaide Advertiser.
Mr Mawate suffered back injuries and was taken to hospital (pictured), along with the 61-year-old grandfather of the birthday girl, but miraculously the young boy was uninjured