A 16-year-old boy tragically lost his life after being crushed by a 30-foot tree he was helping to cut down as part of a summer job. Kamil Hubert, who had just completed his GCSE exams, was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday morning in Carlton-in-Lindrick, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
Kamil was assisting in the felling of the tree when the tragic incident occurred. Despite the swift response of police and paramedics, he succumbed to his injuries. Police have arrested two men, aged 28 and 31, on suspicion of manslaughter, and a 28-year-old woman on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three individuals remain in police custody.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene in memory of Kamil, and an online fundraiser to support his funeral expenses has already raised over £4,000. Kamil’s mother, Jadwiga Pawlowska, expressed her gratitude for the community’s support on Facebook, writing, “I will be very grateful for any help for my son. Please share the fundraiser and help us in this difficult time.”
Locals recounted the harrowing events of Saturday morning, with one resident describing the scene: “I first realized something was wrong when the air ambulance landed in a field opposite my house. I assumed it was a car accident because we live on a fast road, but then I saw numerous ambulances and emergency vehicles.
Another local, who wished to remain anonymous, shared, “It’s really sad. We have been told he was helping a couple of guys cut the tree down when part of it fell and crushed him. The emergency services responded quickly, but sadly they couldn’t save him.
The tree, which stood approximately 30 feet tall, was located on the border of two properties, one of which had been empty and boarded up for years. Residents emphasized the dangers associated with such tasks, noting, “People need to realize how dangerous it can be to take down a big tree. They can weigh a ton.”
Throughout the weekend, many young people visited the scene, leaving flowers, tributes, and lighting candles in Kamil’s memory. One woman observed, “He was obviously very popular. It’s so terrible that he is so young. He should have had his whole life ahead of him.”
Dozens of tributes also poured in online. Lisa Butterworth, writing on Facebook, described Kamil as a “special young man” and expressed her sorrow: “Broke my heart when I was told this morning. You were always one of my favourites. So cheeky and pleasant. An honour to have met you. Gone too soon.”
Detective Inspector Simon Harrison of Nottinghamshire Police stated, “This was a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the boy’s family. They have asked for privacy at this most difficult time. The family is being supported by specially-trained officers as we continue to investigate exactly what happened. Our inquiries remain ongoing, and we are appealing for anyone with information, including witnesses and anyone who may have captured CCTV, doorbell camera, or dashcam footage, to please get in contact with us.
If you have any information that could assist with the investigation, please contact Nottinghamshire Police.
