A young child in Oshawa was found without vital signs after being struck by a falling tree. The incident has shaken the local community and the families connected to the nearby school. Emergency crews fought to save the child after arriving at the scene.
According to police, first responders were called to an area near Oxford Street and Dwight Avenue at around 12:10 in the afternoon. The child was found without vital signs after being struck by a tree in a field. Crews began life-saving measures immediately.
The child was airlifted to a trauma centre in Toronto for further care. Police said the young person is under the age of 12. The decision to airlift underscored the severity of the injuries suffered in the incident.
The incident is connected to a school in the area, where the youngster had been outside during a break in the day. Children at the school offered a simple account of what they had seen. As one described it, a tree fell down, and that was all they knew.
Parents picking up their children after class spoke about how unsettling the event was. One described it as a little scary, while noting that accidents can happen. The mix of relief and concern was clear among families gathered outside the school.
Those same parents said their own children were unharmed. At the same time, they acknowledged that for one family, the outcome was very different. The awareness that a young child had been so seriously hurt weighed on the community even as their own kids were safe.
Officers are now investigating what led to the tree falling. Authorities have not yet provided further details on the child's condition following the airlift. Police are expected to release more information as their inquiry continues.