Friends remember 22-year-old woman killed in freak tree tragedy
Moves are afoot to repatriate the body of a young Adelaide Uni student killed in a Parklands tree tragedy back to her home, as friends paid loving tributes.
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Friends of a young woman killed by a falling tree in the Adelaide parklands have laid flowers at the site of the accident, describing the university student as “beautiful” and “sincere”.
About 2.30pm on Wednesday, a native gum tree collapsed on the University of Adelaide soccer ground off Frome Road, striking a 22-year-old woman who was sitting underneath.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics to treat her wounds, she died at the scene.
On Thursday, a white lily bouquet was left near the toppled trunk, which measured about 15m in height and weighed about eight tons, according to the Metropolitan Fire Service.
Indonesian community leader Eni Mosel, 56, said she was already in contact with the family to help repatriate the woman’s body to Indonesia through her not-for-profit Indopeduli Adelaide.
“We are going to start fundraising and the Indonesian community will lend a hand no matter what the cost,” Ms Mosel said.
“Our community is very generous and they always give whatever they can.”
Because the woman was Muslim, traditional prayers would need to be administered in the country of her death before she is taken back home, according to Ms Mosel.
A prayer session for family and friends will be organised for a date and time next week yet to be determined.
“The family have a lot of friends here who will probably want to pray for her first,” Ms Mosel said.
“What I want them to know is that we are here if they need someone to listen to them and what they’re feeling.”
Just after 10.30am, a friend named Josh arrived to pay tribute with a bouquet of pink roses and proteas.
He was one of the first to arrive at the scene on Wednesday after she was killed, breaking down in tears.
Josh said he rushed down after the woman texted him she would be going for a run in the parklands, but then failed to respond after a number of hours.
“She stopped responding and for some reason I had a hunch that something had gone wrong,” he said.
“I checked the news and saw something had happened here, some kind of accident – they said ‘young woman’ and I just started thinking the worst.
“She was loving, shy at times, but she would always talk and was very approachable.
“She always had a smile on her face and was one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met. She was taken away way too soon, she had so much life and love to give.”
He also said that she was a university student and they frequently exercised together at the gym.
At 11.15am, a middle-aged man and woman also arrived at the scene and comforted Josh, although they did not wish to speak.
Fathan Harysa, 25, arrived at the scene about 4:30pm on Thursday with another friend.
He said the woman killed was an Indonesian international student at the University of Adelaide, who had been in Australia for about a year.
“It’s definitely a horrendous event – her friends are shocked, especially her family in Indonesia,” Mr Harysa said.
“She was a nice person, she was the kind of friend who had no other motive except just being your friend. Really sincere.”
Last night, MFS Commander Declan Dwyer said it was a “freak chance” that the tree hit someone and that he understood Adelaide City Council inspected it last year.
“It’s very shocking and quite sad that someone who is just enjoying the sunshine had this happen,” Mr Dwyer said.
A council spokesman said an investigation is currently underway and could not confirm that claim.
Early morning walkers and joggers stopped to examine the cordoned-off site, expressing shock and grief.
Marie Bowman, 24, runs along the track every morning before work and said what happened “really hits close to home”.
“It’s sad, she was just so young and had her whole life ahead of her,” Ms Bowman said.
Ms Bowman said friends who witnessed the accident told her that the woman had been sitting under the tree, eating a meal and listening to her headphones.
She also said until the day of the accident, she was not aware of native gum trees’ reputations as “widow-makers” due to their frail branches.
“I heard yesterday that you should stay out of sight of (gum trees) when it’s hot outside, but I didn’t know that until after this happened.
“I didn’t realise they could be so dangerous.”
Floral tributes have been laid in the parklands where a 22-year-old student died in a tragic freak accident. The young woman was sitting under a tree at North Adelaide when it collapsed on top of her. Tributes in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm | https://t.co/vOSsOIUFAw#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/C2lo6Ng0n8
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) February 8, 2024
Peter Tregenza, 66, often walks down from his North Adelaide home to photograph local trees and said he was saddened by the news.
“It’s an absolute tragedy what has happened,” Mr Tregenza said.
“There’s probably little we can do except avoid sitting under gum trees, especially the really old ones.”
Retiree Neil Kirby, 75, has lived in a Mackinnon Parade townhouse for 40 years, a couple of hundred metres from where the tree fell.
He said falling gum branches were “a regular occurrence” on the loop.
“I was walking my dogs some time ago and was hit on the shoulder by a small falling branch which has made me wary of being under them,” Mr Kirby said.
“Falling trees often seem to happen after alternate hot and cold days and strong winds … I did look for and was expecting to see a fallen tree or branches after we had those conditions recently.”
Adelaide City north ward councillor Mary Couros attended the scene to examine the damage and pay her condolences as well.
“It’s a tragic set of circumstances and I’m just very saddened for the young lady,” Ms Couros said.
“The investigation is taking place, and I won’t know much more about what happened until it is complete … I just offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends.”
Police will be preparing a report for the coroner.
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Originally published as Friends remember 22-year-old woman killed in freak tree tragedy
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