Man airlifted to hospital after tree fell on top of him

Emergency services were called to Haughmond Hill, near Shrewsbury.

It is thought the fire had been started by campers in the hollow base of the tree in the early hours of Sunday morning, weakening it before it came crashing down across a footpath about half a mile into one of the hill's walkways at about 11am.

The man freed himself from the branches and was flown to hospital by the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Steve Morris, crew manager for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The tree had a hollow trunk and the fire started in there. The fire had burned and weakened the tree itself and caused it to fall down across the path.

"Our problem was getting access and water to it."

He added: "Someone has lit a fire in there. Whether it was a camp fire or someone just lighting a fire I don't know. It would have been burning I suspect for a period of about 12 hours.

"We were called to it just after 11am and there until about 3pm and we used a pumping appliance and an off road vehicle to get water to the tree. Ambulance crews were there to deal with the casualty prior to our arrival.

"I do not know the extent of his injuries, by the time we got there he was being taken to hospital by the ambulance crews. We understood some of the branches had come down on to him.

"As with all outdoor fires we would discourage people from lighting fires outside in woodland because they can catch on so quickly and it is very difficult to put them out once they have started and they are away from the road making it difficult for us to get to them.

"We would caution people against lighting fires outdoors."

The tree is still lying across the path and the Forestry Commission is due to bring its equipment in to try and remove it.