Mum of two killed by falling tree while walking to work in Melbourne
A 'generous and caring' university professor, who was a mother of two young boys, has been identified as the woman killed by a falling tree in a Melbourne park as she walked to work.
Melbourne University Associate Professor Allison Milner, 36, was crushed by a 106-year-old elm tree that fell on her in Princes Park at Parkville about 8.30am on Monday.
Firefighters pulled her from beneath the tree and she was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition but died soon after.
Ms Milner was remembered as an outstanding mental health researcher at the University of Melbourne.
"She was a dear friend of mine, colleague and she was an incredibly bright woman by any stretch," her close friend Professor Anne Kavanagh told The Age.
"Allison's tragic death is a great shock and an immense loss to the university community," Professor Terry Nolan, head of the university's School of Population and Global Health, said on Monday night.
My colleague Allison Milner was a brilliant researcher, a generous colleague, and a loving mum. She led Australia’s largest study of suicide by doctors, among many other research projects which made a difference in the world. She will be deeply missed. https://t.co/V2gfoVqfyD
— Marie Bismark (@mbismark) August 12, 2019
I’m so sorry the world won’t have Allison in it any longer. She was such a force and one of the things I felt positive about for the future. A massive loss.
— Helen Dickinson (@drhdickinson) August 12, 2019
"Her research spanned the fields of suicide prevention, work, gender and disability. Most importantly she was a wonderful colleague and friend. She was humble, generous, and caring."
Century-old elm tree had been deemed safe
The City of Melbourne has said the 103-year-old tree had been inspected on July 12 this year as part of an annual inspection of the row of trees.
"The inspection last month did not highlight any signs the tree posed an increased public safety risk," the City of Melbourne said in a statement.
The tree has since been removed for further inspection by both the City of Melbourne and an independent arborist. The council is also examining other trees in the area.
The tragedy follows on the heels of wild weather in the state, with Melbourne battered by strong winds and heavy rains.
It is the second such tragedy in three days. A large tree fell on a family's car at Fernshaw, in the Yarra Ranges, on Friday, killing a woman.
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