Mum, 40, dies while hiking, husband critical after freak accident
A 40-year-old mum of two has died after a falling tree branch struck her and her husband during a hike.
Kara Leo and her husband, Jared Quinteros, were walking along the Morton Ravine Trail in Boyce Mayview Park, in the US state of Pennsylvania, on Thursday evening (local time) when tragedy struck, local police said.
The large tree branch suddenly fell onto the couple seriously injuring them both, officers said.
A passer-by found the pair about 6:30pm and called for help.
Ms Leo, a pastry chef who ran her own business, died the following day in hospital.
Mr Quinteros remains in hospital in critical condition, close friends told local publication WTAE.
"Kara, she was always laughing. She loved life. She was her own person. She sort of did it her way but she was still a harmonious person. She was sort of the best of both," lifelong friend Jeff Iovino said.
"She was always just a positive person, all the way around.
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"We're just utterly shocked — just couldn't believe it. I said goodbye yesterday after she left for work and said see you tomorrow," he said.
Another friend of the family, Tamara Steiger, has created a GoFundMe for the devastated family, in which she’s described Mr Quinteros as being “paralysed”.
“Kara's boys are going to need a lot of love, care, and support without their wonderful mother there by their side anymore,” she wrote.
“And her husband who will be dealing with the loss of his wife but part of his body too. He is going to need to revamp his whole life missing his other piece.”
The fundraiser has raised more than A$176,000 so far.
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