A 16-year-old boy, locally identified as Kamil Hubert, tragically lost his life while assisting in cutting down a 30-foot tree as part of a summer job.
This heartbreaking incident occurred just a day after Kamil had completed his GCSE exams. Authorities, including police and paramedics, rushed to the scene in Carlton-in-Lindrick near Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Despite their efforts, Kamil was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday morning.
Following the incident, two men, aged 28 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Additionally, a 28-year-old woman was taken into custody on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three individuals remain in police custody as investigations continue.
The local community is in mourning, with dozens of floral tributes left at the scene in memory of Kamil. An online fundraiser has been established to help cover the costs of his funeral, raising over £4,000. Kamil’s mother, Jadwiga Palosa, expressed her gratitude on Facebook, stating, "I will be very grateful for any help for my son. Please share the fundraiser and help us in this difficult time." Police described the incident as a "tragic" and confirmed that Kamil’s family is being supported by specially trained officers.
A local resident, living close to the scene, recounted the harrowing moment they realized something was wrong. "I first realized something was wrong on Saturday morning when the air ambulance landed in a field opposite my house. At first, I assumed it must be a car accident because we live on a road where people drive very fast. But then I looked out and saw ten ambulances and emergency vehicles. I walked up the road to see what was happening because it was obviously something very serious. I spoke to a man who said a young boy had been badly hurt. It sounds like a tree landed on his chest. Sadly, it seems there was nothing they could do. The air ambulance took off again about an hour later without him, simply because they were too late. He died at the scene."
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added, "It’s really sad. We have been told he was helping a couple of guys cut the tree down when part of it came down and crushed him. There was a huge response from the emergency services, but sadly, they were unable to save him. It is a massive tree, about 30 feet tall, and overhangs the garden of a house that has been empty and boarded up for years. It sounds like a tragic accident, to be honest, but people have to realize how dangerous something like trying to take down a big tree can actually be. They can weigh a ton."
Over the weekend, numerous young people visited the site, leaving flowers, lighting candles, and paying their respects. Kamil was clearly a well-loved member of the community. "He was obviously very popular. It’s so terrible with him being so young," a local woman remarked. "My friend spoke to some of them, and they said he just finished his GCSEs last week. He should have had his whole life ahead of him. Apparently, he is a local lad. My heart goes out to his family. No one should lose their son in such a way."
Dozens of tributes have also been paid online. Lisa Butterworth wrote on Facebook, describing Kamil as a "special young man." She added, "Broke my heart when I was told this morning. You were always one of my favorites, so cheeky and pleasant. An honor to have met you. So glad it was my bus you traveled on. Gone Too Soon."
Detective Inspector Simon Harrison of Nottinghamshire Police commented on the tragic incident, stating, "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 kept CCTV, doorbell camera, or dash cam footage, to please get in contact with us."
