Camper dies in Cornwall after tree falls on tent in 'freak accident'

25-year-old attending Boardmasters surfing championship in Newquay

Harry Cockburn
Tuesday 14 August 2018 16:22 BST
Comments
The 25-year-old died after a tree came down at Tehidy Country Park near Cambourne
The 25-year-old died after a tree came down at Tehidy Country Park near Cambourne

A man has died after a tree fell on the tent he was sharing with his family in a country park in Cornwall.

The 25-year-old from Southampton had been staying with his partner and a young boy in a hammock tent suspended between trees at Tehidy Country Park near Camborne when the tree came down during high winds early on Saturday morning.

He suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to hospital in Plymouth, where he later died.

It is thought the man, who has been named as Ryan O'Carroll, was part of a group who had travelled from Southampton to attend the Boardmasters surfing championship in Newquay.

Natalie Jupp, 37, said she was passing at around 1am when she saw torchlight in the trees.

She told South West News Service: “We were driving past the scene when we were flagged down by a young boy, around 10 years old, with no shoes on. It was pitch black.”

“It was a freak accident. One of the trees had catapulted out of the ground.

“I have no idea how long he had been there or how long he would’ve waited if we didn’t drive past.”

Her 19-year-old son attempted to move the 20-foot tree while she performed first aid on the man before the emergency services arrived.

A woman who was trapped in the tent is believed to be the man’s wife and also reportedly sustained a head injury.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “Police were notified on Saturday 11 August to reports of a concern of welfare of a man in his twenties who was believed to have been involved in an incident at Tehidy Country Park.

“Reports came in that a man had received serious head injuries after a tree had fallen where the man had been staying in a tent, and he was taken to Derriford Hospital.

“The man later died as a result of injuries.

“This is not being treated as a suspicious incident and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in