THREE people were taken to hospital after a ten-metre branch fell from a tree at a beauty spot near Princetown on Monday afternoon. People walking along the tree-lined road from the Dartmeet Car Park to the Badgers Holt Restaurant ran as they heard a branch crack, but four were caught as it fell to the ground. An air ambulance and two road ambulances transported three casualties to Derriford Hospital, two of whom were suffering from back injuries and one from leg and head injuries. The injured holidaymakers included a husband and wife from Cornwall and a teenager, who sustained cuts and bruises. Leading firefighter with Princetown Fire Brigade Jon Webber said the crew were called to the scene but fortunately no-one was trapped by the branch. ?At that moment in time there were not many people walking along the road ? five minutes later or earlier it could have been a different story,? he said. The accident occurred around 3.15pm and Mr Webber said the high winds over the last few days were certain to be a factor: ?This is a 30-metre high old ash tree which had been weakened by the weather. The large bough fell about 15 metres.? The area was cordoned off for public safety and fire crews spent more than an hour at the scene making it safe. Mr Webber praised the actions of the people nearby for assisting the casualties and the co-operation of the Badgers Holt staff.
