Boy hit by falling tree at Melrose, Massachusetts school playground dies from severe injuries in "unimaginable tragedy"

A child who was hit by a large falling tree at a school playground in Melrose, Massachusetts has died.

The child, who has not been identified, was one of three people who were hurt when the tree fell on the playground at the Winthrop Elementary School Monday afternoon, just moments after school was let out for the day. A family friend described the child as a boy with a lot of energy, confidence and happiness who was an avid skier.   

Two children and an adult were taken to the hospital in ambulances.

In a joint statement Tuesday, Melrose Mayor Jen Grigoraitis and Superintendent of Schools Cari Berman said one of the children was "severely injured" and passed away.

"There are no words to convey such a profound loss. Our hearts are and will remain with the student's family, friends, classmates who are navigating this unimaginable tragedy," the mayor and superintendent said.

"It is our understanding that the other two individuals, one child and one adult, who were injured yesterday, have been discharged from area hospitals."

Their names have also not been made public. The school was open Tuesday and counseling was available for students and staff.

The exact reason the tree fell is under investigation, but some said it was gusty at the time.

"It was after school; kids were playing on the playground as they usually do," said Nancy Clover of Melrose. "The wind picked up and a tree fell."

The force pushed the trunk of the tree through a chain link fence and onto the playground. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan was at the scene Monday night as police sealed off the area. On Tuesday, people left flowers at the playground to honor the child.

The tree was on the property of the Upham House, a historic home in Melrose. Eda George, the president of the Upham Family Society, said an arborist was at the property very recently, and the tree that fell was not identified as a hazard.

"I can confirm that The Board of Directors authorized that the property be examined by a certified arborist. Then we sought out estimates for the trees needed to be removed," George said. "The tree removal was performed last Friday. The tree that fell over in the wind gust was not identified as a tree at risk for falling."

Selwyn Palmer, 90, is a former crossing guard at the school He's lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years.

"I can't imagine, little kid like that. It's going to be sad for all the kids. They put so much money into that play yard for the kids," he told WBZ-TV Tuesday. "It's fenced in. The kids are safe. They've done so much work to keep the children safe. It's a freak accident." 

No other information is available at this point in the investigation. The Melrose School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday night has been canceled.

Melrose, Massachusetts is about 10 miles north of Boston.