In Aberfoyle Park, a suburb about 21 kilometres from Adelaide’s CBD, a distressing incident occurred when a large tree branch unexpectedly fell on a couple’s driveway. Marilyn Fuss, 64, was struck on the head while her husband, 70, became trapped beneath the heavy limb. The accident happened shortly after their return home yesterday evening when Marilyn heard a loud cracking noise just before the branch fell.
In an attempt to shield herself, Marilyn instinctively raised her hands before the branch hit her, causing significant head injuries that required stapling to close a large gash. Her husband needed assistance from Country Fire Service (CFS) crews to be freed from the debris after paramedics were alerted to the scene. Neighbours rushed to help, with one witness recalling that Marilyn was visibly injured and bleeding.
As both were transported to Flinders Medical Centre for further treatment, Marilyn expressed feelings of gratitude for surviving the ordeal, noting the considerable weight of the branch, estimated to be around 100 kilograms. The incident has raised safety concerns in their neighbourhood, as residents had reportedly alerted Onkaparinga Council about the tree prior to the accident. The council had plans to trim the tree in the upcoming weeks, but the Fusses now advocate for more regular checks to prevent future injuries.
This incident is reminiscent of another recent event at the WOMADelaide festival, where festivalgoers were injured when a branch fell, highlighting a concerning trend regarding tree safety in public and private spaces.