Woman fractures spine after hit by thick tree branch

A woman was hit by a tree branch on Jan 26 while waiting for her husband to pick her up.

As a result, the 68-year-old suffered a spinal fracture and cracked several of her ribs.

Lianhe Zaobao reported that the accident occurred at about 10am at Redhill Close, near the Redhill Market and Cooked Food Centre.

A thick branch about 16cm in diameter fell from a height of 10 metres and hit the woman on the head.

Her husband, 72-year-old Chen, had driven his wife from their home in Geylang to Redhill to buy items for Chinese New Year.

She called him to pick her up after she was done shopping but when he drove over, he saw a crowd where she was supposed to be.

Mr Chen found his wife lying on the ground, bleeding from the head and barely conscious.

Someone was rendering First Aid to his wife while other passersby used tissue paper to help stop her bleeding.

She was later taken to the hospital and needed screw implants for her spine.

"My wife has been in excruciating pain since the incident. She feels extreme pain even at the slightest movement," said Mr Chem.

NParks said the broken branch came from an angsana tree, which was inspected in June 2024 and pruned in September.

Other trees that grow near roads have also been inspected for safety.